Flyers lose a heartbeaker
A one out grounder to second base in the bottom of the tenth looked to be the end of the game, and it was. It just wasn't the way that the Flyers expected it to end.
With a one run lead in the bottom of the tenth with one out and the bases loaded, a ground ball was smacked to Tom Fitzgerald for what looked to be the game ending double play, but a sliding Jason James broke up the double play, allowing two runs to score, including the game winner for the Rockford Riverhawks.
Things were looking up before in the top of the tenth off a go ahead run brought in by a Richard Mercado hit, but it was not meant to be for the Flyers tonight.
Once again Schaumburg outhit Rockford as well, but with everything that went right, the Flyers still could not get the win.
Starting pitching for both teams had a good night. Both Schaumburg's Cody Evans
(0-0) and Riverhawks hurler Kyle Ruwe (0-0) gave up only three runs each and only two earned runs for each starting pitcher, but tonight's winner was an unlikely one in Rockford's Jon Huizinga (1-0). The righty gave up the go ahead run in the top of the tenth, but the two runs scoring in the bottom half of the frame gave him the win.
Schaumburg stuck first early in the top of the first inning with a bunt for a hit by Antoan Richardson. Joe Nowicki then drove him in with a double.
In the third Rockford tied the game up on a walk by Jono Brooks who then stole second and scored on a throwing error by Antoan Richardson.
In the top of the fourth Mike Mooney scored after being walked by Kyle Ruwe and then stole second. The left fielder came around to score on a Kelly Hunt two-out hit to left to put the Flyers back on top.
In the fifth Chris Schultz scores on a Joe Nowicki double after reaching base on a fielder's choice and then moved to second on a throwing error by Riverhawks shortstop Jono Brooks.
Even down two runs Rockford refused to go away. In the bottom of the fifth Kevin House got on base by a walk and then David Cooper singled. Both were driven in on a Jason James double.