Boomers squander late lead in loss

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Schaumburg Boomers failed to hold a three-run lead in the seventh inning, dropping an 8-6 decision to the Evansville Otters in the rubber match of the season-opening series.

Schaumburg led for much of the game. Jordan Dean logged a two-run single in the top of the third. Evansville jumped ahead with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning before a solo homer from Ino Patron in the fourth tied the game. Dusty Robinson singled home a run in the fifth to allow the Boomers to regain the advantage. Paul Kronenfeld followed with an RBI double to move the lead to 5-3. Leading 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Chris Sweeney hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Jake Joyce to hand Evansville the lead. Sweeney hit a walkoff homer on Friday, also against Joyce.

The Boomers finished with 11 hits in the contest. Mark Nelson collected three. Gunnar Kines started and allowed three runs in four innings while walking four and striking out five.