Kernels top Kane County in 12

GENEVA, Ill. - Travis Witherspoon's RBI single in the top of the 12th lifted the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 5-4 win over the Kane County Cougars in the opening game of a three-game series Sunday before 6.153 fans at Elfstrom Stadium.

Witherspoon drove home Andrew Heid, who led off the inning with a double.

The teams were tied 1-1 after nine innings. The Kernels took a 4-1 lead in the top of the 11th on a bases-clearing triple by Wes Hatton. The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the inning on Geulin Beltre's 2-RBI double with one out.

Kevin Johnson (1-0) came on to get the final two outs of the 11th and, after a lead-off walk in the bottom of the 12th, retired the next three batters to pick up the victory.

The Kernels took a 1-0 lead the second when David Harris scored on an error by Kane County first baseman Murray Watts. Kane County tied the game in bottom of the sixth when Brian Fletcher doubled home Alex Llanos.

The teams play Game 2 of the series Monday at noon.