Geneva, Illinois- Tuesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field, the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Kane County Cougars, 9-5.  With the victory, Lincoln won it’s third straight game while claiming the first game of the three-game midweek series.  Kane County saw its ten-game winning streak come to an end.  Ryan Rembisz earned the win for Lincoln, in relief, while Connor Bagnieski and Calyn Halvorson recorded three hits apiece.

Lincoln (34-41) scored nine runs, off fifteen hits, with no errors, and left six runners on base.  Kane County (41-32) had five runs, with eight hits, committed one error, and left nine runners aboard.

The Saltdogs took the lead in the top of the first inning.  Facing Kane County starter Reese Sharp, Nick Shumpert reached on a one-out double.  Two batters later, Connor Bagnieski doubled off the right field wall, scoring Shumpert, to make it 1-0.

Kane County grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first.  Facing Lincoln starting pitcher Graham Edwards, Armond Upshaw drew a walk, then stole second base.  Two batters later, Matt Bottcher walked.  Then, a double steal put runners at second and third.  Todd Lott was hit by a pitch, to load the bases.  Two batters later, Nick Dalesandro drew a walk, scoring Upshaw, to make it 1-1.  The next batter, Charles Mack, singled, scoring Bottcher and Lott, to make it a 3-1 Cougars lead.

Lincoln got a run back in the top of the fourth.  Jairo Pomares led off the inning with a single.  Then, Connor Bagnieski reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, Sharp.  Two batters later, Jake Hjelle doubled, scoring Pomares, to make the score, 3-2.

The Cougars pushed the lead back to two runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Charles Mack led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, to make it 4-2.

The Saltdogs were able to tie the score in the top of the fifth.  Calyn Halvorson and Griffin Everitt hit back-to-back singles.  Cam Phelts sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt.  A wild pitch scored Halvorson, to make it 4-3.  Then, Nick Shumpert grounded out to shortstop, scoring Everitt to tie the score at 4-4.

Lincoln recaptured the lead in the top of the seventh inning.  Facing reliever Logan Nissen, Tanner O’Tremba led off the inning with a double.  Then, Calyn Halvorson reached on an infield single.  Three batters later, Nick Shumpert singled, scoring O’Tremba, to make it a 5-4 Lincoln lead.

In the top of the eighth, Lincoln put its best inning together.  Facing reliever Jordan Martinson, Connor Bagnieski led off the inning with a double.  The Cougars went to the bullpen and brought in Jake Gilbert, to pitch.  The next two batters, Cary Arbolida and Jake Hjelle, drew walks.  Then, Tanner O’Tremba hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Bagnieski.  Calyn Halvorson, Griffin Everitt and Cam Phelts all followed up with RBI singles, to make it a 9-4 Lincoln lead.

Kane County plated one run in the bottom of the eighth.  Facing reliever Gabriel Jaramillo, Jairus Richards singled, then took second on a wild pitch.  Nick Dalesandro singled, putting runners on the corners.  Then, Sam Dexter hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Richards, to make it 9-5, however, that would end up as the final score of the game.

Lincoln starter Graham Edwards pitched 5.2 innings, giving up four runs, off five hits, struck out four and walked four.  Ryan Rembisz (2-5) earned the win, pitching 1.1 innings and struck out one.  Gabriel Jaramillo worked 1.0 inning, gave up one run, off two hits and struck out two.  Zac McCleve pitched 1.0 inning, yielding one hit and struck out one.

Cougars starting pitcher Reese Sharp threw 6.0 innings, giving up four runs, off seven hits and struck out three.  Logan Nissen (1-2) took the loss, pitching 0.2 innings, giving up one run, off three hits and struck out one.  Jordan Martinson pitched 0.1 inning, yielding one run off one hit.  Jake Gilbert pitched 0.1 inning, surrendering three runs, off three hits and walked two.  Ernie Day worked 1.1 innings, yielding one hit and struck out one.

Offensively for the Saltdogs, Cam Phelts was 1-for-4 with an RBI.  Nick Shumpert went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs.  Connor Bagnieski was 3-for-5 with one run batted in.  Jake Hjelle went 1-for-4 with an RBI.  Tanner O’Tremba was 1-for-3 with one run knocked in.  Calyn Halvorson was 3-fo-4 with an RBI.  Griffin Everitt was 2-for-4 and drove in one run.

For Kane County, Jairus Richards was 2-for-5.  Nick Dalesandro was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Charles Mack was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs batted in.  Sam Dexter was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Game two of the three-game midweek series in Geneva, is Wednesday night.  LHP Cam Dayton (2-1, 4.09 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Vinny Timpanelli (3-5, 6.14 ERA) will be on the mound for Kane County.  The first pitch at Northwestern Medicine Field will be 6:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

The next home game for the Saltdogs will be Friday, August 14th, when they host the Kane County Cougars at Haymarket Park, at 7:05 p.m.  That game will be FREE T-SHIRT FRIDAY! sponsored by Abante Marketing.  It is also Military Appreciation Night sponsored by Budweiser & Folds of Honor.  Plus, there will be Post-Game Fireworks.  For tickets, merchandise and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.