7,333 Witness Chasers Slug Sky Sox 11-9

The Storm Chasers scored nine unanswered runs in a ferocious comeback and were able to stave off a late Sky Sox Rally as Omaha held off Colorado Springs in an 11-9 slugfest victory in front of a large crowd of 7,333 fans on Saturday evening at Werner Park.

The large attendance was the third-highest April crowd ever recorded at Werner Park, in addition to the largest on a Saturday in the month of April in the ballpark's history. Many waited in line hours before gates opened in hopes of securing a Mike Moustakas Bobble-Antler, which was given away to the first 1,500 fans through the gates.

Heading into the last of the third trailing 6-0, DH Jorge Bonifacio (2-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) began Omaha's (11-6) scoring spree with a three-run blast to left in the third, his third longball of the season. 2B Whit Merrifield's (2-4, R, 2B, RBI, 3 SB) RBI double the very next inning would cut the deficit to just two before Omaha erupted for five tallies in the fifth.

With the bases loaded, C Tony Cruz (1-3, R, 2B, 3 RBI) crushed a three-run double into the left-center field gap to clear the bases and push the Storm Chasers ahead 6-5. Cruz would subsequently score on SS Dusty Coleman's RBI double down the left field line, with Coleman then coming across on an error to extend the margin to three. Omaha later added what turned out to be much-needed insurance in the eighth courtesy of sacrifice flies from 3B Cheslor Cuthbert and 1B Jose Martinez.

Colorado Springs (7-8) then fought back with a comeback attempt of their own thanks by bringing across three runs over the final two frames, yet they ultimately fell two runs short. 2B Jake Elmore's (2-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) two-run smash in the ninth brought the Sky Sox to within two, however the Storm Chasers were able to shut the door from there for a series-opening victory.

Merrifield stole the show with his third three-steal game of the week after not recording three steals in a single game over his entire career prior to April 19. The speedster's 13 total swiped bags continue to lead the Pacific Coast League, ten of which have come over his last five games.

Omaha starter John Lannan (6.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) earned the victory, with relievers Scott Alexander (1.0 IP) and Mark Peterson (1.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB) each notching holds. Sky Sox righty Hiram Burgos (3.0 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO), meanwhile, suffered the defeat to fall to 1-2.

The two teams are slated to face off in the second game of their four-game set with a Sunday matinee at Werner Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. with the Storm Chasers scheduled to give the nod to RHP Luke Farrell (1-0, 2.51), while the Sky Sox expected to counter with RHP Ariel Pena (0-0, 0.00).