WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Schaumburg Boomers came from behind to win a game for the 27th time this season, scoring an unearned run with two outs in the ninth to open the final weekend of the year with a 3-2 win over the Washington Wild Things in Pennsylvania and hold on to playoff position with just two contests remaining.

Washington scored single runs in the first and second to lead 2-0 early. Cristian Lopez retired the first two batters of the game before a walk and a hit by pitch put runners at first and second for Andrew Czech, who doubled home the first run. Brandon McIlwain homered leading off the second to extend the lead, which seemed to be enough early for Dariel Fregio. Fregio retired the first five Boomers before Kyle Fitzgerald doubled. The righty then retired the next 12 all the way into the sixth.

Schaumburg finally solved Fregio in the seventh. Chase Dawson led off with a single up the box and Anthony Calarco tied the score with one swing, connecting on his seventh homer of the year over the wall in right. Lopez threw six innings for the Boomers and worked around runners on base in every inning. The bullpen took over the seventh and set the stage for the victory. Dawson reached base on an error to open the top of the ninth and Calarco followed with a sharp opposite field single. With runners at the corners and two away, Washington reliever Alex Carrillo unloaded a wild pitch to allow pinch runner Brett Milazzo to score the winning run.

Lopez allowed just two runs in six innings on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Dallas Woolfolk entered in the seventh and retired all six batters face over his two innings to earn his second win. Dylan Stutsman nailed down the save, his fifth of the year, by striking out the side in the ninth. Calarco and Christian Fedko both logged two hits for the Boomers in the win. Alec Craig added to his league best total by walking for the 93rd time, breaking his team record set in 2022.

The Boomers (51-43) have won five in a row and maintain a lead over Lake Erie in the battle for the final playoff slot. The middle game with Washington takes place tomorrow at 6:05 Central. LHP Cole Cook (6-4, 3.64) is slated to make his final start of the year for the Boomers while RHP Jordan DiValerio (10-2, 3.42) takes the ball for Washington.