Seven-run second inning lifts Schaumburg Boomers to victory

The Schaumburg Boomers scored seven runs in the second inning to chase the starting pitcher for the Evansville Otters and cruised to an 8-2 win in the series opener on Wednesday night.

The second started with back-to-back singles from Anthony Calarco and Paxton Wallace. Tyler Depreta-Johnson put the Boomers on the board with a one-out RBI single while another run crossed on an error. Christian Fedko, Chase Dawson, David Harris and Calarco all knocked home runs in the inning, which saw the Boomers total four hits with two walks and a hit batter.

The early advantage was more than enough for Jacob Smith on the mound. Smith tossed five shutout innings and did not allow a hit until the fourth, finishing with seven strikeouts. The lead grew to 8-0 on another Depreta-Johnson RBI single in the fifth. Evansville used six pitchers in the game.

All nine members of the lineup reached base for the Boomers, who drew five walks in addition to being hit four times. Depreta-Johnson drove home two and recorded three of the team’s eight hits. Wallace and Calarco also tallied two apiece. Brett Milazzo reached three times in the win. The start of the game was delayed by rain, a fourth consecutive contest that was affected by weather.