Cougars Prevail to Hand Monarchs Series Loss

Kansas City, KS — The Monarchs were looking to respond after the game last night and were unable to do so as they fell to Kane County 8-5 on Saturday night.

The Cougars picked up where they left off and muscled in a tally to open up the game. With two outs on the board, Matt Botcher doubled and Claudio Finol sent him home on a line drive into left.

They added to their lead as they plated a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Nick Dalesandro kickstarted the frame with a double and then Sam Dexter drove in a run with a liner into left. The very next batter, Zane Spinn connected on a pitch into center to bring in Dexter. In the fifth inning, Josh Allen smoked a two run homer to left and it quickly became a 5-0 lead for Kane County.

In the sixth inning, Charles Mack ripped a ball into left and Nick Dalesandro crossed home plate for the second time in the game.

All-Star starter Ryan Garcia, got the nod on the bump and gave up 10 hits, six runs, but shoved in six punch outs. It was an uncharacteristic night from the California native and will certainly respond in his next outing.

The Monarchs cracked the scoreboard in the sixth inning as Luken Baker got the bats rolling with a double. Trevor Boone has  continued to be exceptional at the dish as he doubled off a fly ball into left field. This brought in Saul Garza later in the frame and he smoked a two run shot to cut it back to a three-run game. Garza talked about his approach going into the at bat and said, “Third at bat of the day, (Cougars RHP) Konnor Ash (is) obviously a really good pitcher. Luckily I seen all of his pitches in the first two at bats, (was) feeling pretty comfortable out there, I got a pitch I could drive and deposited it.”

Kane County orchestrated a response in the seventh off of a two-run RBI single from Claudio Finol and KC found themselves down five once again.

This lead quickly dwindled down to just three as Hudson Head led off the seventh inning when he was hit by a pitch. Sahid Valenzuela and Austin Callahan both walked and the bases were loaded with Baker up. He roped a ball up the middle to bring home a pair of runners, but unfortunately that was all that the Monarchs could drive in as they left nine runners on base tonight.

KC will look to avoid the series sweep with a Sunday showdown before they hit the road to Cleburne. First pitch is at 1:05 tomorrow afternoon.