dupagehounds.com

Nick Martin tossed six shutout innings, aided by the bats of Connor Kopach and Drew LaComb, and the DuPage County Hounds won their seventh straight game, defeating the Chicago Zephyrs 5-1 in a brisk two-hour contest.

Starting on the mound for the first time this season, Martin was nearly unhittable for six innings, allowing just three singles, one walk, one hit batsman, and striking out four. The only trouble he faced was in the bottom of the 3^rd inning when the Zephyrs loaded the bases with two out, but Martin forced Jake Jouris to ground out to second to end the threat.

DuPage County (15-3) struck first when Connor Kopach singled home Drew LaComb in the top of the 3^rd. LaComb turned around with an RBI single in the 4^th to make it 2-0. A third run scored when Connor Kopach doubled and came home on Mike Roberson’s single.

The Hounds sealed the deal in the top of the 6^th. Alex Cain led off with a single and Frankie Perrone doubled to put men in scoring position. LaComb plated Cain with a sac fly two batters later, and Perrone scored on a Luke Hayes wild pitch to make it 5-0.

Kopach also made headlines with his glove work at second base, turning a pair of double plays. The second one, in the 7^th inning, came just one batter after his throwing error gave the Zephyrs a baserunner.

Ryan Hinchley relieved Martin for the 7^th inning and threw a scoreless frame. Christian Bokich then finished out the final two innings to secure the victory.

The Zephyrs’ only run came in the 8^th inning, as John Brodner hit a solo home run off Bokich to make it 5-1.

The Hounds host the Joliet Admirals in an 11:00 matinee at Benedictine University. The team then hits the highway for another six-game road trip, starting Friday night at Northwest Indiana.