BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit Snappers topped the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-3, Thursday in Midwest League baseball at Pohlman Field.

The Kernels stranded 10 runners on base. They scored all three of their runs in the second inning.

It looked like the game would turn into a slugfest as Snappers led 4-3 after two innings, but Beloit’s single tally in the fifth inning was the only other run scored the rest of the game.

The Kernels left the bases loaded twice in the game. In the first inning they stranded three after two walks and a hit batter. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning, but two fly outs and a strikeout ended the inning.

Beloit scored three runs with three consecutive RBI singles in the bottom of the first inning for a 3-0 lead. Renato Nunez, Matt Olson, and John Wooten collected the hits.

The Kernels tied the game in the top of the second inning. Byron Buxton’s two-RBI double scored J.D. Williams and Jeremias Pineda. Buxton scored on Candido Pimentel’s RBI single.

Ryan Matthews led off the bottom of the second inning for the Snappers and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Bruce Maxwell that put Beloit in front 4-3. Maxwell scored on an Alex Muren wild pitch in the fifth inning, extending the Snappers' lead to 5-3.

Mason Melotakis (3-2) suffered the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked three. The bullpen trio of Muren, Josh Burris, and David Hurlbut pitched well, combining for 3.2 scoreless innings.

Stu Pudenz (2-1) recorded the win in relief for the Snappers, going 2.2 innings. He allowed no runs on one hit while striking out four. Seth Streich started and allowed three runs over three innings. Ryan Dull went one inning for his eighth save while Tucker Healy did not allow a run in 2.1 innings.

The Kernels close out the three-game series at Beloit on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. They return home Saturday against Burlington at 6:35 p.m.

KERNELS (3): Buxton, cf, 4 1 2 2, Pimentel, 2b, 4 0 2 1, Polanco, ss, 5 0 0 0, Hicks, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Walker, rf, 3 0 1 0, Harrison, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Williams, dh, 4 1 2 0, Quesada, c, 4 0 1 0, Pineda, lf, 3 1 0 0, Melotakis, p, 0 0 0 0, Muren, p, 0 0 0 0, Burris, p, 0 0 0 0, Hurlbut, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 34 3 9 3.

BELOIT (5): Vertigan, cf, 3 1 3 0, Robertson, ss, 5 0 0 0, Maxwell, c, 3 2 1 1, Nunez, 3b, 4 1 2 1, Olson, 1b, 4 0 2 1, Wooten, rf, 4 0 1 1, Bostick, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Rickles, dh, 4 0 0 0, Mathews, lf, 3 1 0 0, Streich, p, 0 0 0 0, Pudenz, p, 0 0 0 0, Healy, p, 0 0 0 0, Dull, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 33 5 9 4.

Kernels  030 000 000 - 3 9 1
Beloit     310 010 00x - 5 9 1

Melotakis, Muren (5), Burris (7), Hurlbut (8) and Quesada. Streich, Pudenz (4), Healy (6), Dull (9) and Maxwell. W - Pudenz (2-1). L - Melotakis (3-2). Sv - Dull (8). 2B - Buxton (11), Vertigan (12), Nunez (9). SB - Buxton (21), Williams (9), Pimentel (8). E - Pineda (1), Bostick (8). HBP - Hicks (by Streich). T - 3:03. A - 1,418.