By CURT RALLO Tribune Sports Writer South Bend's White Sox found the missing pieces and ended a puzzing 3-game losing streak Thursday night at Coveleski Stadium. The Sox used timely hitting, strong pitching and big-play defense to end the frustrating skid. Kurt Brown cracked a single down the third-base line to score Ed Smith with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and give South Bend a 4-3 triumph against Madison. Brown's single sent 2,862 fans home happy. Smith singled then was safe at second on Javier Ocasio's fielder's choice when Madison first baseman Fred Hanker's throw to second was wild. Brown then settled the issue with his single. He missed on two bunt attempts but ripped the single on a full count. "I'm glad to see Kurt Brown come through," said Sox manager Steve Dillard. "He's been struggling. This has got to boost him. "This was a good victory," Dillard added. "A lot of guys chipped in." Brown said, "I was dragging my hands all night except for my last at bat. On the single I speeded up my hands." South Bend tied the score in the eighth inning to force extra innings. Ray Payton singled with one out. Wilson Valera reached on a fielder's choice. Smith was hit by a pitch and Javier Ocasio delivered the clutch hit for the RBI single., Ocasio belted two singles, hit a sacrifice fly and drove in two runs. Smith also had two hits. Smith led South Bend's defense with a sterling play in the 11th inning. Madison had runners on first and third with two oust. Smith knocked down a shot by Matt Siuda S.B. Sox end frustrating skid TONIGHT'S GAME WHO: Madison Muskies (20-27) VS. South Bend White Sox (16- 29). WHERE: Coveleski. Stadium, South Bend. WHEN: 7 p.m. EST. PROBABLE STARTERS: Pat Wernig (10-4) vs. Curt Hasier (7- 9). GAME NOTES: South Bend has taken two of the last three games from Madison but the Sox trail the season series, 7-4... South Bend has a 3-4 mark against Madison at home and a 1-3 record in Madison. . Wernig has two compiete game triumphs against the Sox and one no decision. that was headed down the thirdbase line for extra bases. Smith got up and made the throw to retire the side. "A lot of time I look to see what Coach Dillard wants me to do, as far as how to play the line," Smith said. "I'm still young and inexperienced. "I give a lot of credit to him," Smith said. "Some of it is instinct too. I was kind of mad at myself. My backhand is my weakest part of my game, although I it's not that bad. 'Eventually want to pick those off cleanly, although they do come fast." Rodney McCray got the Sox off to a 1-0 lead when he walked to lead off the first inning. Two Madison errors later and McCray glided across home plate. South Bend took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on an Ocasio sacrifice fly, but the Muskies pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth for a 3-2 edge. Sox starter Argenis Conde, still looking for his first triumph in five decisions, put in seven quality innings. He gave up six hits, and only one of the three runs charged to him was earned. John Hudek pitched four innings of strong relief to earn the triumph, his fifth against two losses. Hudek's effort lowered his earned-run average to a sparkling 1.77. "Conde pitched a good game,: although he didn't have the good stuff he usually does," Dillard said. "For as well as he's pitching, he should have a better record. Hudek came in and did a good job." Kinnis Pledger cracked a double, made a good play in right field and another that cost the Sox. He made a tough running catch in the 10th but dropped a fly ball in the third that helped the Muskies score their first run. 000 SOX NOTES: Rob Thompson joined the South Bend White Sox from the Sarasota Sox rookie team... The catcher was drafted in June from Indian River (Fla.) Community College... Thompson boasted a hitting average of .316, with one homer and 10 RBI games. South Bend 4, Madison 3 MADISON bi SOUTH BEND Lewis cf McCray cf Robinson 2b Cruz ss Brosius ss ) If Masters 1b Payton dh Hanker 1b Valero 1b Parry rf Smith 3b Ryser c Ocosio 26 Siuda Brown c Gavin If 0 Pledger of Gust dh Totals Totals Madison South Bend 010 None out when winning run scored. Game-winning RBI -Brown (1). E-Brosius, Siuda, Cruz, Pledger, Conde. DP-South Bend 2 Madison 1. LOB Modison 7, South Bend 10. 28- Brosius, Gust, Pledger. $B- McCray 43. Valera 3. SF- Robinson 2. Ocasio, SACLewis. Madison Garcia Stocker Cundari (L, 2-5) 11111 South Bend Conde Hudek (W, $-2) Cundari pitched to three batters in the 11th. Conde pitched to one. batter in the eighth. HBP-Smith (by Stocker). WP-Stocker. U- Steve Dorchinecz (home plate), Kevin Steefting (first base) and Bud
