• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Beloit Snappers lead way to secure playoff spot

BELOIT — Beloit pitchers were overpowering Thursday night.

Tyler Jones, Tim Atherton and Michael Tonkin combined for 16 strikeouts to lead the Snappers to a 5-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs at Pohlman Field.

The victory clinched a first-half Midwest League Western Division wild-card playoff berth for the Snappers. It marks the first time in five years that Beloit will participate in the postseason playoffs.

Jones, a Milwaukee native, made his fourth start of the season. Beloit took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on home runs by Nate Roberts and Adam Bryant, but Peoria tied the game with three in the fourth.

The Snappers got two runs in the eighth on Bryant’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Jonathan Goncalves.

Atherton (1-1) picked up the win in relief, while Tonkin struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save.

Beloit hosts Burlington in a three-game series beginning tonight.

David Hurbult will start for Beloit. Hurbult has a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 1.80 in 25 innings of work.

BELOIT 5, PEORIA 3

Peoria Chiefs 000 300 000—3 4 2

Beloit Snappers 300 000 02x—2 7 0

Burke, Liria (8) and Cabezas; Jones, Atherton (7), Tonkin (9) and Rodriguez.

Leading hitters—Williams (B) 2x3. 2B—Geiger (P), Williams (B). HR—Baez (P), Roberts (B), Bryant (B).

SO—Burke (P) 4, Jones (B) 9, Atherton (B) 4, Tonkin (B) 3. BB—Burke 2, Liria 1, Jones 2.

W—Atherton (1-0). L—Liria (1-1). S—Tonkin (6).

Time—2:27. Attendance—801.