Boomers blanked by Miners

The defending Frontier League champion Schaumburg Boomers mustered just four hits against Southern Illinois Miners starter Robby Rowland in a 3-0 loss at Boomers Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The game began as a pitcher's duel with Boomers right-hander Kit Fowler taking a no hitter into the seventh inning in his first start of the season. Fowler was masterful on the mound early on, racking up nine strikeouts in his first six innings of work. However, it was the seventh inning that did the 23-year-old Fowler in.

After a leadoff single ended his no hitter, Fowler managed to get Romero Cortina to pop out to first base before freezing Joe Dudek for his 10th strike out of the game. From there though, things unraveled for the Boomers. Miners third baseman Anthony Critelli smacked a double to break the scoreless tie, forcing the Boomers to go to their bullpen. Then, reliever Tucker Ward allowed two more runs to cross the plate before the Boomers caught London Lindley trying to advance to second after an RBI single. The Boomers trailed 3-0 after the seventh inning

It was a subpar day at the plate for the Boomers. In spite of getting the first three hits of the game in the first six innings, the Boomers could not plate a run all game long. Both Dylan Jones and Kenny Towns connected for two hits each, but the Boomers did little else on the offensive end.

A combined relief effort from Kyle Tinius and Josh Werner completed the shut out for the Miners, who won 3-0 to even the series at one game apiece. Fowler (0-1) picked up the loss in his first decision of the season.. Rowland (2-0) notched the win for the Miners and Werner picked up his second save.