SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The South Bend Silver Hawks topped the Kernels, 6-5, in 11 innings Saturday night before 3,688 fans in a Midwest League game at Coveleski Stadium.

The Kernels held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning, but the Silver Hawks tallied a trio of runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ryan Court's RBI single in the 11th gave South Bend the victory.

Late-inning walks doomed the Kernels. South Bend scored four runs in the ninth and 11th innings, and all four men reached with a base on balls. Six of the seven walks the Kernels issued in the game came in the last three innings.

Kevin Medrano led off the bottom of the 11th with a free pass and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch by Tim Atherton sent Medrano to third base and forced the Kernels to bring the infield in with one out.

Court's RBI single sneaked past the drawn-in infield as shortstop Jorge Polanco dove to his left and could not come up with the ball.

Tim Atherton (1-1) took the loss in relief, going two innings and allowing one run on two hits. Josh Burris allowed three runs in one inning.

With the Kernels leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, three walks issued by Burris loaded the bases for the Silver Hawks. Atherton came on and threw a wild pitch that scored a run to cut the Kernels' lead to 5-3.

Brandon Drury's sacrifice fly made the score 5-4. With two outs in the inning and Fidel Pena at third base, Socrates Brito laid down an RBI bunt single to tie the game, 5-5.

Tyler Duffey was terrific again on the hill for the Kernels as he went seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking one in a no-decision. He has pitched at least seven innings in four of his five starts and has thrown into the sixth inning in all five outings.

The Kernels and Silver Hawks traded a pair of runs in the first inning.

Polanco had an RBI triple down the right-field line for the Kernels to knock in Niko Goodrum. Dalton Hicks drove in Polanco with a single to left.

Court tied the game for South Bend with a two-run single in the bottom of the first.

The Kernels loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning and scored twice to take a 4-2 lead. Adam Brett Walker came home when Romy Jimenez grounded into a double play. Tyler Grimes scored when J.D. Williams beat out an RBI bunt single.

Cedar Rapids extended its lead to 5-2 with an unearned run in the eighth inning. Goodrum scored when Silver Hawks right fielder Brito bobbled the ball on a single by Polanco.

South Bend's Blake Perry started and went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking four. R.J. Hively (1-0) recorded the win as he pitched two innings, allowing no runs on one hit.

The Kernels stranded a season-high 15 runners on base and went 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Cedar Rapids (19-8) and South Bend (19-7) will meet again Sunday at 1:05 p.m. with Jose Berrios (2-0, 2.31) on the mound for the Kernels.

KERNELS (5): Buxton, cf, 5 0 2 0, Goodrum, 3b, 4 2 1 0, Polanco, ss, 5 1 2 1, Hicks, 1b, 6 0 1 1, Walker, rf, 5 1 1 0, Grimes, c, 4 1 2 0, Pimentel, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Jimenez, dh, 5 0 0 0, Williams, lf, 5 0 1 1, Duffey, p, 0 0 0 0, Jones, p, 0 0 0 0, Burris, p, 0 0 0 0, Atherton, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 43 5 11 3.

SOUTH BEND (6): Medrano, ss, 4 3 3 0, Pena, 2b, 4 1 0 0, Drury, 3b, 4 1 1 1, Court, dh, 5 0 2 3, Brito, rf, 5 0 1 1, Glenn, lf, 3 0 1 0, Hall, 1b, 5 0 0 0, Rodriguez, c, 4 1 2 0, Almadova, cf, 5 0 0 0, Perry, p, 0 0 0 0, Garcia, p, 0 0 0 0, Locante, p, 0 0 0 0, Hively, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 39 6 10 5.

Kernels         200 020 010 00 - 5 11 0
South Bend  200 000 003 01 - 6 10 1
(One out when winning run scored)

Duffey, Jones (8), Burris (8), Atherton (9) and Grimes. Perry, Garcia (6), Locante (9), Hively (10) and Rodriguez. W - Hively (1-0). L - Atherton (1-1). 2B - Buxton 2 (7), Walker (6), Drury (11), Medrano (6). 3B - Polanco (3), Medrano (2). SB - Goodrum (3), Buxton (12), Glenn (5). S - Pena. SF - Drury. E - Brito (4). T - 3:29. A - 3,688.