SCH 6 Bolts 2
The Schaumburg Boomers used a three-run eighth to put away the ThunderBolts 6-2 in the season-opening game at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg Thursday night.
The Boomers produced a run in each of the first two innings. In the first, Gerard Hall led off with a double and scored on a Chad Mozingo sacrifice fly. In the second, Brian McConkey hit a leadoff doubke before Sean Mahley knocked him in on a single.
Mike Recchia settled down after that, retiring 12 of the next 13 hitters.
The ThunderBolts had baserunners in each of the first five innings, but could not score, thanks in part to three double plays. In the sixth, they broke through when they loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. With one out, Louie Templeton lined a single to left field, scoring Ryan Soares and Zach Aakhus to even the score at two.
Recchia’s control issues hurt him in the bottom of the sixth as he walked Mozingo. Mozingo moved up on a wild pitch and a passed ball and scored on Recchia’s throwing error on a Steve McQuail grounder.
The Boomers put the game away in the eighth, scoring three runs on just two hits. Mahley’s two-run single was the big hit of the inning, making the score 6-2, which would be the final.
Matt Kuna (1-0) earned the win, allowing just one hit in two innings of relief. Recchia (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs in six innings.
The ThunderBolts will continue their season-opening ten-game roadtrip on Friday night with a 7:05 first pitch at Rent One Park against the Southern Illinois Miners. Matt Wickswat will get the start for Windy City and Brian Oliver gets the call for the Miners. The game broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
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