Boomers get 14 hits, but no win

MARION, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers led for the first time Sunday, but, despite a season-best 14 hits, they were outslugged by Southern Illinois 9-5 and suffered a sweep in the weekend series.

For the first time in the series, Schaumburg opened the scoring. The Boomers struck for a run in the top of the first against Southern Illinois starter Brian Fowler.

Nick Kuroczko connected on his second double of the season with an opposite-field drive down the left-field line. Jereme Milons legged out an infield single with two outs and Nate Baumann put the Boomers ahead with an RBI single.

Southern Illinois touched spot starter Jose Rodriguez for 2 runs in the second to take a 2-1 lead.

Frank Pfister evened the game with his second homer in as many games, clearing the wall in left with one out in the third.

The Miners chased Rodriguez with 3 runs in the third to move ahead 5-2. The first two batters reached in the fourth when Sean Mahley was hit by a pitch and Mike Valadez singled. A sacrifice moved up the runners before a sacrifice fly from Andrew Cohn brought the Boomers within 5-3.

Southern Illinois extended the lead to 9-3 with 4 runs in the fourth, 3 of them unearned. The big blow came with two outs when Will Block delivered a 2-run homer to left off reliever Dave Whigham.

Sean Mahley hit the first home run of his professional career in the eighth, scoring Baumann, who singled to lead off the inning, bringing Schaumburg within 9-5.

The Boomers posted a season-high 14 hits in the defeat. Pfister finished 3-for-5, while Cohn, Baumann and Mahley each had 2 hits.