Five Larks players tallied multi-hit efforts in a game where the Bucks scored nine unanswered runs in the final two innings of play to stun the Larks

WATERLOO, Iowa – Sometimes the truth hurts.

The truth is that the Larks are at a low point in their 2017 inaugural season and, yes, it hurts. Especially because of the manner in which the Larks lost earlier today.

The Bismarck Larks were defeated 11-10 by the Waterloo Bucks losing their fifth straight game, a season-high losing streak.

All signs were pointing towards the Larks snapping a four-game skid as they busted out of the gates scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Luke Horanski laced a two-run, two-out double and Brandon Lankford followed suit delivering an RBI single off of Bucks starter Jared Crescentini to put the Larks up 3-0 early.

The Bucks responded in the bottom of the second inning with two runs when they got back-to-back RBI doubles from Deion Thompson and Jake Viaene. For the first seven innings, this was just about the only offense the Bucks could muster up against Jamie Kaye.

Disregard the bottom of the second inning and Kaye dominated the Waterloo offense for his other six innings of work.

Kaye allowed just one hit following the two-run, three-hit inning he conceded in the bottom of the second. That hit was an innocent one-out single off the bat of Zach Malis in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The right-hander out of Bloomington, MN puzzled the Bucks at the plate as a plethora of hitters found themselves caught on their front foot popping everything they saw into the air. Throughout Kaye’s first seven innings on the day, he induced 13 pop outs with seven of those staying on the infield.

Having added an extra run in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a Luke Waldek RBI double, the Larks were pushing all the right buttons in order to dodge a season-high five game losing streak. The combination of Kaye’s lights out pitching and a six run top of the eight seemed like more than enough.

Yes, that is the correct, the birds of Bismarck scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Jeff Mayes laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a run because of a throwing error by Viaene. Horanski added his third RBI of the day with a single and Lankford launched a three-run home run to left to extend the Larks lead to 10-2.

The seemingly “more-than-enough” insurance runs were added on and everything was going the Larks way.

Now, if you’d like to save yourself from misery, stop reading now. If you’d like to know how the Bucks would come back and win this game, proceed at your own risk.

The bottom of the eighth inning and the bottom of the ninth inning did not go the Larks way by any means.

Kaye came back out for the eighth and was only able to record one out. He gave up an RBI single to Drew Greenwood, followed that by walking Brandon Gutzler to load the bases, and that concluded Kaye’s outing.

The inning would spiral out of further control as Jake Johnson allowed four more runs on three more hits. Three out of the four runs were charged to Kaye and the other run was charged to Johnson. After eight innings of play, the Larks were clinging to a 10-7 lead.

After a quick 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning for the Larks, Zach Walz’ number was called upon in hopes of notching his second save of the season. That simply would not happen as Walz allowed six out of the seven batters he faced to reach.

Walz loaded the bases in three out of his first four batters due to a walk, a single, and a hit-by-pitch. Concannon and Jay Schuyler followed by bringing the Bucks within one run with back-to-back bases-loaded walks.

Thompson delivered the knockout punch with a walk off double scoring both Gutzler and Concannon to top off the Bucks improbable comeback.

A Larks offense that recorded double-digit hits for the first time in five games and scored double-digit runs for the first time since July 3rd was not enough.

The Larks hope to end their season-high skid in La Crosse, WI as they take on the Loggers for a two-game set starting tomorrow. The first pitch of tomorrow’s tilt is set for 7:05pm from Copeland Park.

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The Bismarck Larks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.bismarcklarks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Larks as your favorite team.