The Schaumburg Flyers (21-22) took a three-run lead on a home run by Victor Ferrante in the first inning tonight and never trailed in the contest as they defeated the Kansas City T-Bones (22-22), 6-3, at Alexian Field in Schaumburg, Illinois.

After a scoreless top of the first for the T-Bones, Ferrante homered with two outs off Luis Villarreal (2-3) to give Schaumburg a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the frame.  Kansas City pulled within two in the top of the third when Neb Brown drew a one-out walk from Alain Quijano (2-1) and scored on a single by Craig Hurba.  Schaumburg got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Ferrante walked with one out, advanced to third on a single and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Jeff Dunbar to push the score to 4-1.

Quijano allowed just the one run on five hits over his seven innings of work in the victory.  Villarreal left after six having surrendered four runs on six hits in the loss.

Chris Rhoads relieved Villarreal in the seventh and surrendered three walks in the frame, loading the bases with two outs for Dunbar.  The Flyers all-star catcher/outfielder plated two runs with a single to cap off the Flyers scoring at 6-1.

Kansas City picked up a single run in the eighth against Cephas Howard on an RBI single by Jim Fasano.  With two on and one out in the ninth, Damian Rolls pushed the score to 6-3 with an RBI single off Howard.  With the tying run at the plate, the right-hander struck out Greg Jacobs and induced a groundout from Hurba to end the contest.

The two teams prepare for the rubber match of their three-game set tomorrow afternoon.  Justin James (3-4, 6.57) will get the call for Kansas City opposite Edwin Almonte (3-4, 4.99) and the Flyers.  First pitch is set for 1:20.