Snappers bullpen preserves one-run win
Justin Higley hit a two-run home run and Trent Gilbert drove in a pair of runs for Beloit as the Snappers held on for a 6-5 win against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Gilbert had a sacrifice fly in the second inning to give Beloit its first lead of the game and and RBI single in the fourth. Higley's two-out home run in the fifth stretched the Snappers' lead to 6-1.
Beloit starter Brett Graves, who struck out four in five-plus innings, gave up four straight hits to start the top of the sixth, including RBI doubles by Carlos Leal and Alan Sharkey.
Kevin Johnson entered the game for the Snappers and retired the Timber Rattlers in order, but two inherited runners scored on groundouts to cut Wisconsin's deficit back to one run. Johnson and Jose Torres combined to pitch four scoreless innings to preserve the win, Graves' eighth of the season.
The in-state rivals close out their four-game series at Pohlman Field at 7 p.m. tonight.
BELOIT 6, WISCONSIN 5
Wisconsin 100 004 000—5 10 2
Beloit 110 220 00x—6 10 0
Williams, Linehan (5), Lieser (7) and Leal; Graves, Johnson (6), Torres (8) and Raga.
Leading hitters—DeMuth (W) 2x4, Leal 3x3, Rubio (W) 2x4, Sharkey (W) 2x3, Gilbert (B) 2x4, Raga 3x4. 2B—DeMuth, Leal, Sharkey, Bennie (B), Raga. HR—Higley (B).
SO—Williams 4, Linehan 3, Lieser 4, Graves 4, Johnson 2, Torres. BB—Williams 3, Linehan, Graves, Torres.
W—Graves (8-3). L—Williams (2-6). S—Torres (6).
T—2:57. A—740.