Brett Roneberg's two-out solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off Quad City closer Saul Rivera gave the Kane County Cougars a dramatic 5-4 victory over the River Bandits Wednesday night.

The win forced a third and deciding game of their first-round Midwest League playoff series.
Kane County and Quad City will play Game 3 Thursday night at Elfstrom Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Rivera (0-1) opened the ninth by retiring Willy Hill and Derek Wathan on ground outs to second base.

Roneberg, who had two previous RBI-singles in the game, then homered on a 1-2 pitch from Rivera.
It was the first home run allowed all season by the Bandits closer, who finished second in the league in saves this season with 23.

Kane County handed Rivera a blown save in the eighth inning when he came on to face catcher Matt Treanor with Jose Santos on third base and one out. Treanor lifted a fly ball to left field, deep enough to score Santos from third and tie the game, 4-4.

Quad City scored first on a two-run home run by first baseman Jon Schaeffer, the first home run of the series by either team. Kane County, however, responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first inning.
Wathan doubled with one out and scored when Roneberg singled him home to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
After a single by Santos, Matt Padgett's fielder's choice was good enough to bring home Roneberg with the tying run.

Hill led off the third inning with a triple to right-center. He scored one out later when Roneberg singled home his second run of the game, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead.

Roneberg finished the night 3 from 4, with 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored and 1 walk.

Quad City took advantage of two walks in the seventh to claim a 4-3 lead on a fielder's choice and an error by second baseman Jesus Medrano.