Snappers Walk Off Rattlers to Conclude Suspended Game from April 17

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Beloit Snappers beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-3 on a walk-off double by Cobie Vance on Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field in the conclusion of a game that was suspended in Beloit on April 17.

Vance put the Snappers (22-36) up with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning back at Pohlman Field in April. Beloit loaded the bases with one out against Wisconsin starter Aaron Ashby, but the Rattlers lefty escaped with no more damage in the frame.

Wisconsin (28-31) responded with a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Leugim Castillo drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch from Beloit starter Bryce Conley to extend the inning. Jesús Lujano dropped a single into right to get Castillo to third. Lujano got himself into scoring position with a stolen base. Antonio Piñero put the Rattlers in front with a bloop single to right that scored both runners.

However, the lead didn't last long. Ashby walked Ryan Gridley to start the rally. Vance tied the game with a double to left to score Gridley. Chase Calabuig followed with a single to get Vance home and the Snappers were up 3-2.

Ashby struck out the side in order in the bottom of the third and the first batter he faced in the bottom of the fourth to give him nine strikeouts in the game. The Snappers got a runner on when Ashby walked Calabuig with two outs as the rain began pouring down. Play was halted before the next batter could see a pitch and it would not resume until tonight at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

The game restarted with Ashby recording his tenth strikeout of the game.

Beloit reliever Michael Murray gave up two hits in 3-2/3 innings of relief, but faced the minimum number of batters. David Fry doubled in the top of the fifth, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Lujano singled to start the seventh, but was erased on a double play.

The Snappers turned to their All-Star closer Eric Mariñez with two outs in the top of the eighth and he got the final out with a strikeout.

In the top of the ninth, Gabriel García drew a walk to start the inning and Castillo delivered a single to left with one out to move the tying run into scoring position. Lujano followed with a single, his fourth hit of the game, to left to drive in García with the tying run and get Castillo around to third base.

Antonio Piñero sent a flyball to shallow left that wasn't deep enough to score Castillo, but Lujano tried to go to second. However, the throw was right to the cutoff man and Lujano was out at second to end the inning.

Ashby walked the leadoff batter on four pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning and it cost him. Vance was next and he hit a double off the wall in left to drive in the run and the Snappers celebrated a walkoff win on the Rattlers home field.

Ashby was credited with a complete game and struck out thirteen in the game, but was charged with the loss.