SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The 2021 Frontier League Champion Schaumburg Boomers plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run at third and the winning run at second in a 3-2 loss to the Gateway Grizzlies before the largest crowd of the year, a sellout of 7,491.

Gateway scored the first run of the game in the top of the second with two outs on a double from Abdiel Diaz which brought to an end a 19-inning scoreless streak for Schaumburg starter Kobey Schlotman. Gateway added to the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh on a two-run double from Isaac Benard.

The Boomers had managed just three hits going into the ninth before Chase Dawson led off with his 23rd triple of the year, adding to his league and team record. The three-bagger was the first for the All-Star since August 9. Clint Hardy singled home Dawson with one away, scoring the 500th run of the season. Hardy eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch, but a pair of sharp grounders to Diaz were fielded cleanly as Gateway held on for the one-run victory with John Murphy notching his ninth save.

Schlotman was the hard luck loser, working 6.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Thomas Nicoll fanned three in 1.2 blank frames and Tanner Shears struck out two in the ninth. The Boomers fanned 11 in the game to become the second team in the league this year to eclipse the Frontier League record for strikeouts. Schaumburg owns 844, a team record. Alec Craig posted two hits in the defeat. Braxton Davidson walked twice to stretch his on-base streak to 46.

The Boomers (49-39) continue the series with Gateway at 1:00pm tomorrow afternoon. Sunday is Bark in the Park presented by PetSuites with Pre-Game Catch on the Field and Post-Game Autographs presented by Wintrust Community Banks. RHP Aaron Glickstein (6-6, 4.41) is the scheduled starter against RHP Steven Ridings (4-1, 5.33). Ridings was the opening night starter for the Boomers in 2018. Don’t miss your chance to see one of the final games before summer comes to a close. Tickets for the 2022 season are on sale now! Visit boomersbaseball.com.