Cougars win opening game in BCL Americas
The Kane County Cougars beat the Santia Maria Pirates 16-14 in the opening game of the Baseball Champions League Americas on Tuesday in Mexico City.
In a game that featured massive swings of momentum, the Cougars trailed Santa Maria 13-11 entering the top of the ninth. Facing Pirates reliever Edgar Ernesto Garcia Melendez (0-1), Todd Lott led off the frame with a single. After a Ross Adolph fly out, Josh Allen kept the rally going with a single to center field to put runners at first and second. Following Allen’s single, Nick Dalesandro delivered a clutch, opposite field double to score both runners and tie the game at 13.
Two batters later, Armond Upshaw helped give the Cougars the lead with a single through the left side. Dalesandro was tripped up on his way to the plate, but a throwing error allowed him to score the go ahead run. Later in the inning, a Brantley Bell single scored Upshaw to make it 15-13. The Cougars added another run on a throwing error to take a 16-13 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cougars reliever Tyler Beardsley remained on the mound after tossing a scoreless eighth. Though he surrendered a solo homer to Jiandido Tromp, Beardsley picked up a pair of strikeouts and induced a groundout from Juremi Profar to preserve a 16-14 victory for Kane County.
The Cougars continue group play in the BCL Americas on Thursday afternoon when they take on the Leñadores de Las Tunas (Cuba).