Metro Sports Report

Kernels whip Cougars for 2-0 start

GENEVA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels got a spotless performance from their relief pitchers Friday night and trimmed Kane County, 6-4, in a Midwest League game before 1,885 fans at the Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, Ill.

The victory gave Cedar Rapids a 2-0 record to start the season.

Cedar Rapids starter John Curtiss surrendered a three-run home run in the first inning, but he settled down and left with a 6-4 lead after 5 2/3 innings.

Michael Theofanopoulos relieved Curtiss and tossed 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball, then C.K. Irby struck out the side in the ninth inning for the save.

The three Kernels pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.

Nick Gordon went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Kernels. J.J. Fernandez also went 3-for-5. Zack Larson drove in two runs.

Cedar Rapids and Kane County will finish their three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.

Kirkwood baseball sweeps Southwestern

The Kirkwood Eagles won a pair of ballgames in vastly different ways Saturday against Southwestern at the Kirkwood field.

First came a 7-6 squeaker with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, then came a 15-2 laugher in five innings.

The twin-killing raised Kirkwood's records to 20-13 overall and 8-6 in the conference. Southwestern fell to 8-21 overall and 4-10 in the league.

Shortstop Sulliam Rios Reyes went 6-for-8 for Kirkwood in the twinbill.

RoughRiders fall into 3rd place

WATERLOO - The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders lost to Waterloo, 6-3, Friday night before 2,445 fans at Young Arena and fell into third place in the Eastern Conference of the USHL standings.

Dubuque topped Tri-City Friday night and moved into second place in the standings with 77 points. The RoughRiders have 76 points with one game remaining for both teams.

Cedar Rapids and Dubuque will meet in the first round of the USHL playoffs next week in a best-of-5 series. Whichever team finishes second in the conference will have the home-ice advantage.

The RoughRiders host Chicago Saturday night. Dubuque visits Waterloo.

The RoughRiders and Waterloo were tied 3-3 after two periods Friday night, but Waterloo scored three unanswered goals in the third period for the victory.

Erik Foley, Andrew Gaus and Adam Gaudette scored for Cedar Rapids. Ben Blacker was touched for all six goals by Waterloo.

Biehl slugs 2 homers as Eagles split

DIXON, Ill. - Lexie Biehl belted two more home runs Friday as the 11th-ranked Kirkwood softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Sauk Valley in Dixon, Ill.

Kirkwood won the first game, 20-1, in five innings. Sauk Valley captured the nightcap, 7-5.

Biehl went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIs and three runs scored in the opener. Brooke Prior was a 2-for-4 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored.

Alicia Crivaro socked a home run and drove in four runs for the Eagles in the opener. Natalie Clark also hit a home run and drove in four runs.

Nicky Simpson pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts.