Boomers hold off Slammers

Quincy Nieporte drove home three runs, but the Schaumburg Boomers needed to hold off a late surge from the Joliet Slammers to tally a 4-3 win on Thursday afternoon, capturing the series.

Nieporte drove home his first run in the bottom of the first. Jack Parenty led off the game with a single and moved to third on a basehit from Jimmy Galusky before Nieporte lifted a sacrifice fly. Dash Winningham evened the game with a solo homer in the fourth against Schaumburg starter Matt Miller, his seventh of the year. Nieporte hit a line drive over the wall in the bottom of the fifth for his third longball of the season, handing Schaumburg the lead for good.

Nieporte knocked in his third with another sacrifice fly in the seventh as the Boomers led 3-1. Joliet scored in the top of the eighth to draw within a run before Dylan Jones singled home a run in the bottom of the inning to account for the decisive run. Joliet tallied a run in the ninth but stranded the tying run at third as Connor Eller closed the door on his league best eighth save.

Miller posted his first quality start as a professional, improving to 2-0 on the season after allowing one run in six innings with three walks and six strikeouts. The offense finished with nine hits as Parenty and Clint Hardy each notched a pair.

The Boomers (19-17) welcome the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday night for Harry Potter Night, presented by Safari Land. The first 500 kids will receive Harry Potter glasses. Postgame fireworks, presented by Wintrust Community Banks, will erupt following the contest. LHP Aaron Rozek (1-2, 3.18) will make the start in the 6:30 p.m. contest against his former team while the Miners send RHP Nick Stroud (1-1, 3.68).