SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Frank Pfister’s game-tying two-run home run and Chad Mozingo’s walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth gave the Schaumburg Boomers a 10-9 victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums in a battle of first-place teams on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Boomers Stadium.

In the thrilling ninth inning, Sean Mahley was down to his final strike before grinding out a walk, just ahead of Pfister, who promptly smashed a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence to tie the game at nine. Immediately following the Pfister long ball, Steve McQuail took first base on a walk and scored on a hit-and-run two-bagger by Mozingo to win the game.

It was a game of unanswered rallies, as the Boomers scored seven straight out of the gate before being answered by nine Traverse City runs prior to the exciting ninth inning.  Mozingo drove in two runs with a single in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Mahley and Pfister. Mahley doubled in two runners in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 4-0 before a sacrifice fly to left field scored Jereme Milons. McQuail capped the scoring in the second with a two-run dinger to left field, his third of the season, to put the Boomers up by seven.

Beach Bums starter David Deminsky (4-1, 6.64) struggled early, and lasted only two innings while allowing seven runs on six hits. Traverse City (28-13) got on the board in fourth inning with a solo home run by Jose Vargas, and scored three more runs in the sixth inning before putting up a five-spot in the seventh inning.

Patrick Mincey (3-0, 0.00) earned the victory with a scoreless ninth inning and continues to pad his all-star resumé. Closer Scott Mueller (1-2, 3.05) took the loss for Traverse City, allowing three runs in two-thirds innings of work. Schaumburg starter Matt Kuna (1-0, 3.77) received a no-decision, as did his counterpart Deminsky. Kuna threw five and one-third strong innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out five Beach Bums. 

Lefty Cameron Roth (4-2, 2.47) takes the bump for the Boomers opposite Traverse City’s RHP Jacob Clem (3-3, 2.59) in tomorrow’s rubber game matchup.

PECKS

• The victory was Schaumburg’s fifth walk-off win of the season.
• Mozingo extended his streak of multi-hit games to six.
• The Boomers improve to 4-0 at home when hitting more than one home run and to 9-0 at home in games decided in the seventh inning or later.

Boomers Stadium is sure to be bellowing with laughter tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. as the Famous San Diego Chicken comes to town. In his 39th year, the Famous Chicken’s antics have made him an icon in the sport and entertainment world. Get your tickets today by calling 847.461.3695, visiting boomersbaseball.com, or by stopping by the box office.