BELOIT, Wis.  – Cedar Rapids scored six runs in the fourth inning as they defeated the Beloit Snappers 7-2 on Thursday night at Pohlman Field.  Jonathan Murphy drove in four runs in the game as the Kernels won their second-straight contest to begin the road trip.

Beloit took a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Christopher Bostick and Renato Nunez both recorded their 80th run batted in on the season.  However, the Kernels came right back in their next at-bat with the six-run inning to take the lead for good.

The Kernels sent 11 men to the plate in the big fourth inning.  Niko Goodrum started the frame with a walk and came home on Jorge Polanco’s RBI double that went just inside the first base line.  Adam Brett Walker followed with a RBI double just inside the third base line to score Polanco and tie the game 2-2.  After Max Kepler singled and Travis Harrison was hit by a pitch, Joel Licon’s RBI single plated Walker and gave the Kernels a 3-2 lead.

Murphy came up with the biggest hit in the inning as he cleared the bases with a 3-run double into left-center field.  Kepler, Harrison, and Licon all scored to put the Kernels in front 6-2.

Murphy came through again in his next at-bat, in the sixth inning, to extend the Kernels' advantage to 7-2.  Murphy went the opposite-way to right field for a RBI triple that brought home Licon, who had singled to begin the inning.

The Kernels had an outstanding night defensively.  Murphy dove into shallow center in the first inning to take away a run-scoring base hit for John Wooten.  Wooten was robbed two more times as the Kernels turned a pair of double plays.  Wooten scorched a ball to third in the third inning, but it was caught by Harrison at third base, who then threw to second base to double off Bostick.  With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning, Harrison back-handed a grounder near the third base line, stepped on third, and threw out Wooten at first for another double play.  Goodrum dove into shallow left field to grab a liner in the second inning, taking away a hit from Matt Olson.

Tim Atherton (6-4) picked up the win for the Kernels as he pitched five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking three.  Alex Muren retired all nine batters he faced in his three innings of relief.  He struck out two.  Brian Gilbert pitched the ninth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Derek DeYoung (5-5) took the loss for the Snappers, allowing six runs on six hits over four innings.  Vince Vorio went three innings, and Tyler Vail pitched two innings to finish out the game for Beloit.

The teams play agin Friday night at 7 at Beloit.

KERNELS (7): Murphy, cf, 4 0 2 4, Goodrum, ss, 2 1 1 0, Polanco, dh, 4 1 1 1 , Walker, rf, 5 1 2 1, Kepler, 1b, 5 1 2 0, Harrison, 3b, 4 1 1 0, Altobelli, c, 5 0 0 0, Licon, 2b, 4 2 2 1, Pineda, lf, 4 0 1 0. Totals 37 7 12 7.

BELOIT (2): Shipman, lf, 3 1 2 0, Robertson, ss, 2 0 1 0, Bostick, 2b, 4 0 1 1, Nunez, 3b, 4 0 1 1, Wooten, rf, 4 0 0 0, Olson, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Mathews, dh, 4 0 1 0, Rickles, c, 4 0 1 0, Vertigan, cf, 4 1 1 0. Totals 33 2 8 2.

Kernels    000 601 000 - 7 12 0
Beloit       002 000 000 - 2  8 0

Atherton, Muren (6), Gilbert (9) and Altobelli. DeYoung, Voiro (5), Vail (8) and Rickles. W-Atherton (6-4). L-DeYoung (5-5). 2B-Polanco (28), Walker (27), Murphy (5). 3B-Murphy (2). SB-Shipman (14), Mathews (7). T-2:48. A-1,096.