Duluth allows a handful of runs late in Waterloo to allow Bucks to split series
Zach Linfield, zachlinfield@gmail.com
Waterloo, Iowa – The Huskies finished a four-game road trip in the plains of Iowa with the second half of a two-game series with the Waterloo Bucks. Unfortunately for Huskies’ starter, Will McEntire, the defense behind him allowed a handful of errors that allowed a couple of runs which put the Bucks ahead for good in the 7th inning in the 5-2 loss.
Duluth got off to a 2-run lead through the first three and a half innings by the hand of a Mike Boeve RBI single and a wild pitch in the 4th which plated Ambren Voitik. The Huskies chased Bucks’ starter, Harrison Cook after four innings pitched allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Following the 4th, the Huskies bats went quiet. Duluth only tabbed on two more hits throughout the rest of the game against Waterloo’s lone bullpen pitcher this afternoon, Jordan Nelson, who earned the win. The first Bucks’ run of the ballgame came on a fished homerun from Daniel Irisarri, the homer by Irisarri was the only earned run placed on Will McEntire. The next run scored after the Bucks put a few men on and Garrett McGowan flew out to center when an errant throw to the infield ended up scoring Waterloo’s Chris Seng to tie the game at 2-2. Following McEntire’s departure after the 6th, Ohio State product Ethan Hammerberg entered the game. Hammerberg allowed a few hits and then his Buckeye teammate and 1st Baseman, Blayne Robinson, made two errors on back-to-back plays which scored two runs. The Bucks added one more unearned run in the inning.
The most impressive part of the Huskies’ order today was the middle to bottom half. The five, six, seven batters went a combined 6-for-12 at the dish in the form of Blayne Robinson, Ambren Voitik, and Bryan Broecker. Charlie Rhee, Mike Boeve, and Zac White also had hits in the ballgame. Will McEntire provides another quality start for Duluth (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) in a no-decision in his third time on the mound.
Errors continue to haunt the Huskies, as the walks slowed down in the Waterloo series. Duluth committed 17 errors over the four-game road stand as they now lead the league in errors committed on defense. The bats continue to show improvement and the combination of Mike Boeve and Ambren Voitik have been a fantastic add to the lineup.
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.