SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers put the tying runs on base in the ninth but will have their season come down to a single game after the Evansville Otters rallied to a 4-1 victory at Wintrust Field on Friday night, evening the best-of-three series. 

The game unfolded as another tight pitching battle. Evansville put runners on base in each of the first three innings but did not score. Cole Smith threw out a runner at the plate in the top of the first. The Otters loaded the bases with only one out in the third but for the third time in the series failed to score a run. Schaumburg opened a 1-0 lead with a controversial run in the bottom of the third. Evansville exited the field thinking a double play had been turned to end the frame on a deflected groundball off the bat of Kellum Clark, but after a discussion just one out was awarded and the first run of the game had crossed the plate in the form of Alec Craig.

The slim one-run lead held until the seventh. Back-to-back singles opened the inning before a sacrifice bunt. Dennis Pierce tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Logan Brown put Evansville ahead with an opposite field two-run homer. Sam Linscott homered with two outs in the eighth to make the score 4-1. Schaumburg loaded the bases in the ninth against Evansville closer Junior Cerda thanks to three walks but the attempt at a rally fell just short.

Buddie Pindel started and threw five shutout innings, walking three and striking out three. Four relievers combined to finish out the contest. Schaumburg left 11 on base in the loss. Craig and Chase Dawson both tallied two hits as the Boomers totaled eight hits while drawing six walks.

The series will conclude on Saturday night at Wintrust Field with a winner-take-all game three at 6:30pm. LHP Cole Cook (8-8, 4.63) is slated to start for the Boomers. Tickets are on sale now along with 2027 season tickets. Visit boomersbaseball.com to grab yours or call (847) 461-3695.