SCHAUMBURG, IL. 5-28-2010 — The Gary SouthShore RailCats scored in each of the first two innings, but three errors and a three-run fifth for the Schaumburg Flyers proved to be the difference as the hosts snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 win Friday night at Alexian Field.

The RailCats cranked out eight hits in the game – their second-highest output of the year – but only three came after the second as Flyers starter Brett Harker (1-1) and two relievers limited the ‘Cats the rest of the way.  Schaumburg, meanwhile, stayed with the RailCats by scoring an unearned run in the first and tying the game in the third before the decisive three-run fifth.  Former Purdue-North Central outfielder Chris Shultz supplied the tie-breaking hit with a two-out, run-scoring single before Richard Mercado’s infield single, coupled with a Jay Pecci throwing error, added two more runs.

Mike Massaro started the game right for the RailCats, singling into right field and scoring later in the inning when Jeff Beachum drove a two-out single into center.  In the second, Mike Reese walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run single from Yuki Matsumoto.  Reese scored one batter later on a Chris Carrara sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 RailCats.

Reese was part of the RailCats last rally of the game, as well, ripping a line drive double into the right field corner to score Beachum in the sixth.  That hit, however, would provide the RailCats their last baserunner of the night as Harker, Reid Price and Matt Elliott set down the last 11 ‘Cats hitters in the game.  Elliott earned his first save of the year with a perfect ninth.

Zach McClellan (0-1) took the loss for the RailCats, and pitched better than his final line would indicate.  McClellan was the victim of the ‘Cats three errors and four of the seven hits he allowed were infield hits.  In total, McClellan was charged with five runs (three earned) in 5.0 innings with a season-high six strikeouts.

Massaro and Beachum each had two hits to pace the RailCats, with Beachum recording his second straight two-hit game.  The Tennessean leads the RailCats with nine hits and his .300 average is also tops on the team.  Schaumburg had nine hits on the night, two each from Schultz and Joe Nowicki.

The RailCats (3-6) and Flyers (2-6) resume their three-game set Saturday at 6 p.m. when Ryan Zink (0-0, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start against former RailCat Alain Quijano (0-0, 5.40 ERA).  The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: Schultz, who was the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year at Purdue-North Central in Westville last year, made the Flyers out of the team’s open tryout and is hitting a blistering .355 in his rookie season while batting third in the Schaumburg order … the RailCats have lost the opening game in all three 2010 series … the win was just Schaumburg’s eighth against the RailCats in 43 games over the last three years … the RailCats bullpen pitched three scoreless innings, bringing that unit’s ERA under 4.00 (3.68) for the first time this season.