SAUGET, Ill. — A wild affair that saw the Schaumburg Boomers rally from a 7-2 deficit ended in a 10-8 loss to the Gateway Grizzlies on Saturday night in suburban St. Louis.

Frank Pfister’s first inning homer put Schaumburg ahead 1-0 but Gateway scored four times in the bottom of the frame and went on to lead 7-2 after five. Down 7-3, the Boomers sent 12 men to the plate in a five-run seventh to open a momentary 8-7 lead. Brian McConkey, Sean Mahley, and Alexi Colon, all recorded run scoring hits consecutively in the frame. Craig Hertler coaxed a bases loaded walk to put Schaumburg ahead.

Gateway’s Landon Hernandez tied the game with a two out solo homer in the bottom of the inning and Antone DeJesus provided the difference with a two-run shot in the eighth against Dan Petitti, who suffered the loss. The Boomers placed the tying runs on base in the ninth but strong defense from Gateway ended the threat. The Boomers lost despite a season high in runs scored and a franchise record in total walks. Schaumburg drew 12 walks in the contest. Chad Mozingo and Colon posted two hits each.

The roadtrip concludes with the series finale on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. RHP Mike Giovenco (0-1, 3.60) will start for the third time this season against RHP Tucker Jensen (1-0, 0.00) for Gateway.