By WJBC Staff

PEORIA- The Peoria Chiefs scored in the bottom of the 16^th inning to end their longest game since 2008 with a 7-6 win over the South Bend Cubs Saturday night. The 16^th inning single by Vaughn Bryan at 12:43 a.m. moves the Chiefs to 30-32 on the season.

The Chiefs opened up the scoring in the first inning with a pair of runs off Cubs starter Jeremy Null. Darren Seferina led off with a single, Oscar Mercado singled, and Alex DeLeon laced a two-out double plating both Seferina and Mercado for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

South Bend responded with a run in the third off Chiefs starter Daniel Poncedeleon. Rashad Crawford walked and scored on an RBI double by David Bote to make it 2-1.

The Chiefs extended their lead in the fourth after Steve Bean doubled and later scored on a sac fly by Andrew Sohn to make it a 3-1 Chiefs lead.

After a rain delay that lasted an hour and nine minutes, the Cubs rallied to take the lead in the eighth inning off Chiefs reliever Tyler Bray. Jeffrey Baez walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Crawford to cut the deficit 3-2. Bote belted a two-run homer to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead.

South Bend grabbed an insurance run in the ninth after Jacob Vosler doubled and Gioskar Amaya drove him home with an RBI single to make it 5-3 Cubs. The Chiefs refused to give up in the ninth. Blake Drake singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sohn walked and Vaughn Bryan singled to load up the bases. Oscar Mercado tied the game at five with a single that was deflected by third baseman Bote and scored Drake and Sohn. Bryan was gunned down at third base, which sent the game to extras.

South Bend plated a run in the 13^th inning after Yasiel Balaguert singled and scored on an RBI triple by Vosler to make it 6-5. The Chiefs came right back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the 13^th. Bean led off with a double, Ronald Castillo walked, and Sohn singled home Bean to tie the game. Seferina nearly grounded into an inning-ending double play, but shortstop Vosler threw the ball away. Danny Diekroeger, pinch running for Castillo, was gunned down at the plate trying to score the game winner.

The Chiefs finally notched the win with a walk-off single in the 16^th inning, their first walk-off win of the season. Seferina doubled with one out and Bryan singled to right as Seferina beat the throw home for the 7-6 win.

Poncedeleon allowed one run on one hit and three walks, striking out six over six innings of work. Nick Lomascolo struck out the only batter he faced before the lengthy rain delay ended his night of relief. Bray allowed three runs on two hits and one walk, striking out three in an inning and two-thirds of work. Dixon Llorens allowed one run on two hits and struck out two in an inning pitched. Robby Rowland tossed two scoreless innings allowing only one hit and striking out five. Kyle Grana gave up one run on two hits and one walk, striking out two in two innings of work. Kender Villegas (1-1) tossed three shutout innings without yielding a baserunner and striking out five.