Fast start results in victorious finish for Schaumburg Boomers

The Schaumburg Boomers scored four runs in the first inning to surge past the Mississippi Mud Monsters 8-4 in the opener of a Memorial Day weekend series at Wintrust Field.

Alec Craig opened the game by drawing a walk and Myles Beale coaxed a one-out free pass. Anthony Calarco singled home Craig to put the Boomers on the scoreboard. Schaumburg has scored in the first inning during six of their seven contests at Wintrust Field this year.

Kyle Fitzgerald followed Calarco with a two-run double and Will Prater capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly. The Boomers have outscored opponents 21-4 in the first inning at home. Mississippi tallied single runs in the third and fifth to pull within 4-2, but Myles Beale launched the third grand slam of the homestand for the Boomers in the sixth to provide the separation. Mississippi placed the tying run on deck in the eighth and ninth but could not rally.

Cole Cook put together a quality start to nab his second win of the season, striking out eight in six innings of work while allowing just one earned run. The pitching staff tallied 13 strikeouts in their seventh game with double-digit strikeouts this season. The Boomers posted just six hits but drew eight walks. Calarco tallied two hits. Craig walked three times as he approaches the league’s all-time record. Schaumburg is now 7-0 at home.