SAUGET, IL — The defending Frontier League champion Schaumburg Boomers, presented by Wintrust Community Banks, dropped a 5-1 decision to the Gateway Grizzlies to finish the opening series of the season.

Schaumburg led for the first time on the season by scoring a run in the top of the third. Clint Hardy led off with a double to center and scored the only run of the day on an infield single from Casey Scoggins. The lead did not last long as Trae Santos connected on a two-run homer in the fourth to put Gateway ahead. The hosts added three more runs in the sixth to account for the final.

Payton Lobdell made his first start in a Schaumburg uniform after being obtained in a spring training trade with the Lake Erie Crushers. Lobdell did not allow a hit until the fourth. The righty suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings while striking out four. James Mulry, Mitch Schulewitz and Jake Joyce all made their first appearances of the year.

The offense finished with six hits and tallied 16 in the first series of the year while scoring three runs. Scoggins finished with two hits out of the leadoff slot and drew a walk. Schaumburg struck out 10 times in the contest, the second double-digit strikeout outing of the weekend. The Boomers were swept only once last season and had never been swept in the season opening series before. 

The Boomers (0-3) kick off the home portion of the schedule kicks off on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. against the Southern Illinois Miners with a magnet schedule giveaway along with the celebration of the 2017 championship season. RHP Joe Hauser is slated to make the opening night start. Make the Boomers part of your plans this season by calling (847) 461-3695.