By Mike Monaco

APPLETON, Wisc. – Ian Happ continued his hot stretch with three more RBI to power South Bend past Wisconsin, 4-1, in Sunday afternoon’s rubber game at Fox Cities Stadium.

Happ (2-for-3, one home run, three RBI, one walk) supplied the bulk of the offense, while starting pitcher Zach Hedges delivered five strong innings, and the Cubs (25-24 second half, 54-62 overall) downed the Timber Rattlers (17-31 second half, 40-78 overall) to conclude a six-game road trip.

Hedges allowed just one run on four hits and no walks in five innings while collecting a pair of strikeouts. Hedges finished his afternoon by stranding a runner at third to close the fifth.

Cubs reliever Michael Wagner followed Hedges and spun two scoreless frames. Righty Alexander Santana handled the eighth, and submariner Corbin Hoffner buttoned up the ninth inning. The Cubs won four of six games on the road trip.

Happ has notched 10 RBI, six hits, three home runs and seven runs in his last four games.

South Bend broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third when Happ roped a two-run triple to the right-field wall. Happ later scored on an RBI groundout to stretch the lead to 3-0.

The Timber Rattlers climbed on the board in the fourth. Right fielder Elvis Rubio doubled to center and scored on a pair of wild pitches, bringing Wisconsin within two, 3-1.

The Cubs were held without a hit from the fourth inning until the top of the eighth, when Happ teed off on a solo home run to right-center field, extending South Bend’s lead to 4-1.

South Bend enjoys an off day Monday before opening a three-game series Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET against Dayton at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (4.47 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Dragons lefty Junior Morillo (6.75 ERA).