EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Schaumburg Boomers utilized a pair of homers to go on the road and open the best-of-three Frontier League Wild Card series with a 3-2 win in a tight pitcher’s duel over the Evansville Otters in Southern Indiana.  

Evansville opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. LG Castillo recorded an infield hit, moved up on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly as the hosts led 1-0. Evansville starter Ryan Wiltse retired the first eight Schaumburg hitters before Kai Moody drew a walk in the third. Anthony Calarco recorded the first hit for the Boomers with a two-out double in the fourth. Cole Zaffiro sat down nine straight on the hill for the Boomers giving the team a chance to rally.

Alex Calarco tied the game by blasting a solo homer to dead center with two outs in the fifth. Evansville loaded the bases on three straight hits to open the bottom half but Zaffiro escaped, keeping the game even. Kyle Fitzgerald worked a walk with two outs in the sixth before Anthony Calarco dismantled a 3-1 offering from Wiltse over the wall in right to put the Boomers up 3-1. Zaffiro retired the final nine batters he faced. Dennis Pierce led off the ninth with a homer for Evansville and the Otters loaded the bases with one away but Darrell Thompson was able to close out the win with a strikeout.

Zaffiro nabbed the win after throwing seven innings, allowing just an unearned run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Kyle Moore spun a 1-2-3 eighth. Schaumburg managed just five hits in the game but drew four walks while issuing none of their own. Anthony Calarco logged two of the hits with as the 2025 Frontier League MVP posted a pair of extra-base knocks. Calarco also walked to reach base three times in the win. Schaumburg put the leadoff man on base just once, the ninth inning.

Schaumburg leads the series 1-0. The series will continue on Friday night at Wintrust Field with game two at 6:30pm. RHP Buddie Pindel (11-3, 3.74) is the scheduled starter for the Boomers while Evansville has not announced a starting pitcher. Playoff tickets are on sale now along with 2027 season tickets. Visit boomersbaseball.com to grab yours or call (847) 461-3695.