Another Boomers rally falls short

The Schaumburg Boomers rallied in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night but again fell short in dropping a 5-3 contest to the Lake Erie Crushers.

Lake Erie scored the first run of the evening in the top of the second inning against Schaumburg starter Gunnar Kines on a one-out double. Kines settled in, retiring seven in a row and 10 of 11 entering the sixth. The visitors had only 2 hits entering the sixth but posted three straight to start the frame, scoring 4 runs before the dust settled to extend the lead to 5-0. Schaumburg had chances in almost every inning but could not break through until late.

The Boomers logged 4 consecutive hits to open the bottom of the ninth. Nick Oddo knocked a two-run single to put the Boomers on the board, plating Kenny Towns and Kewby Meyer. The tying runs were on base with no outs, but just one more run scored on a sacrifice fly from Collin Ferguson.

Kines suffered the loss, allowing 5 runs in six innings while walking 2 and striking out 4. Neil Kozikowski finished out the game, retiring the first 6 batters. Kozikowski struck out 5 in three innings of relief and allowed just 1 hit. The offense finished with 10 hits, the third 10 or more showing in four games this week. Towns notched 3 hits with a double with Meyer and Jack Parenty each posting a pair. Parenty reached four times out of the leadoff slot.

The series concludes on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.