CornBelters Fall in 12-Inning Heartbreaker at Schaumburg
July 5, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
Normal, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, gave up a tying run with two outs in the ninth inning and the winning run on a bases-loaded passed ball in the 12th to suffer a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Schaumburg Boomers on Saturday night at Boomers Stadium.
The game's only run was scored in the sixth inning when Santiago Chirino led off with a base hit, went to third on a Mike Schwartz single to right and scored on a sacrifice line drive to right by Sam Judah. The Boomers led off their sixth inning with a triple by Justin Vasquez, but Belters starter Matt Packer struck out the side, the heart of the Boomers order, to keep the Normal lead at 1-0.
The Boomers tied the contest while down to their final out in the ninth inning. Tyler Sciacca led off with a single to right off closer Alan Oaks, then went to second on a fielder's choice before Brian McConkey hit a flare double on the left field line to plate Sciacca and send the game to extra innings.
The CornBelters had chances in both extra frames. In the 10th inning, Schwartz drew a one-out walk followed by a double to the right field corner by Judah, but Schwartz was forced to stay at third base when the ball bounced out of play. In the 11th inning, Pat McKenna was called out at third trying to stretch his lead-off hit.
The Boomers completed the dramatic win by loading the bases with two singles and a hit batsman in the 12th, scoring the winning run on a passed ball.
Heith Hatfield (2-1) received the win while Jason Postill (3-1) was tagged with the loss. Packer did not receive a decision despite seven innings of four-hit ball with one walk and eight strikeouts.
The series concludes Sunday at Boomers Stadium as the Belters send right-hander Bobby Shore (3-1, 4.26 ERA) to the mound while the Boomers counter with lefty Danny Jimenez (2-3, 4.57). First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday with a 12:50 pre-game at www.normalbaseball.com . The Belters return home Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand with the Joliet Slammers beginning with a doubleheader that night and continuing with single games on Wednesday and Thursday.
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