Schwindel's Blasts Not Enough in 8-7 Loss

Omaha first baseman Frank Schwindel clobbered two homers and drove in four runs to up his hit streak to 11 games, while the Storm Chasers and Cubs combined for 14 runs between the fourth through sixth frames in a back-and-forth affair in Iowa's 8-7 victory on Monday afternoon at Werner Park.

After the I-Cubs grabbed the early 4-0 lead, Schwindel helped Omaha cut the deficit with his solo shot to left in the fourth. 3B Garin Cecchini's opposite field two-run single to left narrow the margin with one. Following Iowa's single tally in the fifth, the Storm Chasers countered immediately with a four-spot, highlighted by Schwindel's second blast in as many innings, a three-run roundtripper to left-center to push Omaha ahead 7-5.
Iowa, however, answered right back with a trio of scores in the sixth to cap the game's scoring. The Cubs reliever corps of Pierce Johnson (2.2 IP) and Jack Leathersich (1.0 IP, K) combined for the final three-plus perfect frames in support of Iowa starter Aaron Brooks (5.1 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). The 2014-15 Storm Chasers hurler earned the win, with Johnson and Leathersich receiving a hold and save, respectively.
Omaha reliever Seth Maness (2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K) suffered the defeat to fall to 1-2. Southpaw Eric Stout (1.2 IP, 2 H, K) stranded an inherited runner and proceeded to fire 1.2 frames of shutout ball to keep the Storm Chasers within a run.
Omaha 2B Dean Anna (3-4, 2 R) recorded three knocks to lead his squad, in addition multi-hit efforts from Schwindel (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI), CF Billy Burns (2-5, R) and 3B Garin Cecchini (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI). Iowa RF Bijan Rademacher (3-4, R) collected a trio of base hits, in addition to two-hit games from DH Jemile Weeks (2-4, 2 R), C Taylor Davis (2-5, R, HR, 3 RBI) and CF Jacob Hannemann (2-5, R, 2B). Schwindel has recorded hits in 11 consecutive contests, in addition to 29 of his last 30 matchups, batting .409 (52-127) with 22 runs, 13 doubles, 11 homers and 37 RBI since July 15, leading all minor league players in several of those offensive categories.
Omaha remains at home to begin a five-game series with the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Tuesday evening, with first pitch of the series opener scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. LHP Eric Skoglund (4-5, 4.36) is anticipated to toe the rubber for the Storm Chasers, with the Dodgers expected to send RHP Brock Stewart (0-0, 3.24) to the hill.
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers contests, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets, as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office ours, please click here.