MARION, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers led for the first time, but despite a season best 14 hits were outslugged by Southern Illinois 9-5 and suffered a sweep in the weekend road 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 two runs in the bottom of 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 top of the third. The Miners chased Rodriguez from the game with three 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 four runs in the fourth, three of which were unearned. The big blow in the frame came with two outs when Will Block delivered a two-run homer to left off reliever Dave Whigham. Mahley hit the first homerun 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 recorded two hits in the defeat.

Following a Monday off day, the Boomers will begin a stretch of 21 games in a row, all against the West Division, at Boomers Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Gateway Grizzlies visit on a Hometown Tuesday. Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, and Streamwood are the first towns of honor. RHP Robby Donovan (1-1, 4.24) will open the six-game homestand on the hill for the Boomers with Gateway using RHP Cale Johnson (0-1, 6.43).

PECKS

• Valadez was back in the lineup after a day off on Saturday
• Eric Holmes worked two flawless innings out of the bullpen with a pair of strikeouts

Season Tickets, Group Outings and single-game tickets for the Inaugural Season of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball are on sale now by calling the 847.461.3695, by visiting www.boomersbaseball.com or by stopping by Schaumburg Boomers Stadium located at 1999 S. Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg.