BELOIT, Wis. - Beloit's Nick Rickles homered twice as the Snappers topped the Kernels, 7-6, Wednesday in a Midwest League game before 371 fans at Pohlman Field.

The Kernels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when three straight men reached with two outs. Travis Harrison and J.D. Williams drew back-to-back walks before Jhonatan Arias blooped an RBI single down the left field line.

Beloit took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Christopher Bostick and Ryan Matthews.

The Snappers hit long balls in consecutive innings to jump further ahead. Bruce Maxwell launched a solo home run to center field in the third inning to make it 3-1.

In the fourth inning, Rickles homered to left field. The two-run shot was his first of the season and made it 5-1.

Byron Buxton helped put a pair of Kernels runs on the board in the fifth inning. After Candido Pimentel singled, Buxton lined an RBI triple into the right-center gap.

Beloit right fielder John Wooten dove for the ball and missed, allowing the ball to roll to the wall. Buxton scored on Niko Goodrum's RBI groundout, cutting the Snappers' lead to 5-3.

Rickles hit another two-run home run in the sixth inning to put Beloit ahead, 7-3.

The Kernels scored three runs in the last two innings to pull within 7-6. Adam Brett Walker and Harrison reached base with hits in the eighth inning and a Williams RBI groundout plated Walker.

In the  ninth inning, Jorge Polanco lined a two-run home run to center field, cutting the deficit to one run, but the rally ended there.

Hudson Boyd (1-2) allowed seven runs and eight hits over 5.1 innings in the loss. He struck out four and walked two.

Josue Montanez retired all five Snappers he faced in 1.2 innings of relief. Manuel Soliman pitched a scoreless inning.

Michael Ynoa started for the Snappers, going 3.1 innings. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out four and walking three.

Tyler Vail (1-2) allowed two runs over 1.1 innings and got the win. Andres Avila allowed three runs in 3.2 innings. Ryan Dull recorded the final out for his seventh save.

Cedar Rapids (30-14) and Beloit (26-18) play again Thursday at 11 a.m. with lefthander Mason Melotakis (3-1, 3.09) pitching for the Kernels.

KERNELS (6): Buxton, cf, 4 1 1 1, Goodrum, 3b, 5 0 0 1, Polanco, ss, 5 1 1 2, Hicks, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Walker, rf, 4 1 1 0, Harrison, dh, 2 1 1 0, Williams, lf, 1 0 0 1, Arias, c, 4 0 1 1, Pimentel, 2b, 3 2 1 0. Totals 32 6 6 6.

BELOIT (7): Vertigan, cf, 4 0 0 0, Robertson, ss, 4 0 0 0, Maxwell, dh, 4 1 1 1, Nunez, 3b, 3 1 0 0, Olson, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Wooten, rf, 4 1 2 0, Bostick, 2b, 3 2 2 1, Rickles, c, 4 2 2 4, Mathews, lf, 3 0 1 1. Totals 33 7 9 7.

Kernels    010 020 012 - 6 6 0
Beloit       021 202 00x - 7 9 1

Boyd, Montanez (6), Soliman (8) and Arias. Ynoa, Vail (4), Avila (6), Dull (9) and Rickles. W - Vail (1-2). L - Boyd (1-2). S - Dull (7). 2B - Harrison (15), Wooten (7), Bostick (9). 3B - Buxton (5). HR - Polanco (2), Maxwell (2), Rickles 2 (2). SB - Buxton (2). E - Nunez (14). T - 2:27. A - 371.