Waterloo, IA – The Chinooks keep their win streak alive on Thursday, emerging victorious against the Waterloo Bucks by a score of 6-5 in a 10 inning battle of attrition.

The Chinooks started off the scoring with a run in the top of the first. Joe Duncan (Eastern Illinois) singled to left to lead off the inning, but he was later thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Kevin Riley (Chaffey Community College). After Riley advanced to second on a stolen base, designated hitter Hayden Senger (Miami-Ohio) continued to stay hot by slapping a line-drive double to center, scoring Riley on the play to give the Chinooks an early 1-0 lead.

The lead did not last long though, as Waterloo’s Tyler Curtis (Lynn) tied things up in the bottom of the inning. Cole Gnetz (Miami-Ohio) was the starter for Lakeshore, ceding a run on a fielder’s choice from Curtis after a walk, single and an error put runners on for the Bucks.

The Chinooks regained the lead behind a two-run fifth. Owen Miller (Illinois State) drew a walk to start the inning and advanced to second on a ground ball fielder’s choice from new-comer Evan Harasta (Albany). Miller would later come around to score on a single to left from Alec Woinski (Lafayetee), subsequently followed by Joe Duncan double that advanced Woinski to third. Kevin Riley proceeded to hit a fly ball towards the first base side in foul territory that was caught by Bucks first baseman Daniel Perry (Iowa). Noticing that home plate had been unguarded by the Waterloo defenders on the play, Woinski instinctively tagged up at third and raced home safely to give the Chinooks a 3-1 lead.

Once again the advantage was short lived, this time the Bucks tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Parr (Madison College) relieved Gnetz after he issued a walk, a wild pitch and gave up an RBI double to Adam McGinnis (Western Illinois) to start the inning. A single by Jake Hand (Southern Illinois) advanced McGinnis to third, and then a fielder’s choice ground out by Taylor Boyd (St. Joesphs) tied the game up 3-3.

The Chinooks came right back in the top of the eighth to regain the lead. After a fly out by Joe Duncan, both Kevin Riley and Kurtis Brown (Richmond) were issued walks by Bucks reliever Nick Hynes (Missouri Baptist). Hynes was then relieved by Derek Hendrixson (Wright State). Ultimately the substitution backfired, as Matt Johnson (South Dakota State) roped a triple off the right field wall to drive in two runs and give the Chinooks a 5-3 lead.

However, the Bucks yet again surged back. In the bottom the eighth, Austin Jones (UW-Whitewater) came in to pitch for Lakeshore following two singles that were given up by Marshall Kasowiski (Houston) to start off the inning. Succeeding a fielder’s choice that positioned Blake Alexander (Dallas Baptist) on first and advanced Jake Hand to third, Matthew Paciello (Kirkwood Community College) struck a line-drive single to put the Bucks back within one going into the ninth.

The Bucks would proceed to tie the game in the bottom in the ninth following a ground ball fielder’s choice off the bat of Zach Frickie (Iowa) scored Colin Kreiter (Kirkwood Community College) from third, sending the game into extra innings.

The Bucks brought in right-hander Nate Spielvogel (Merrimack College) in relief in the top of the tenth, but his entrance did not faze the Chinooks hitters. Joe Duncan got the offense rolling by stabbing a single into left. Following a throwing error on a pickup to first by Spielvogel that advanced Duncan to second, Kevin Riley laced single of his own to send Duncan to third. Kurtis Brown was issued a walk to load the bases, prompting Matt Johnson to hit a sacrifice fly to shallow left field to score Duncan from third, giving the Chinooks the 6-5 lead.

Chinooks Manager Eddy Morgan called on right-hander Luke Sommerfeld (Saint Louis) to close it out for Lakeshore in the bottom of the tenth. Though he issued a walk, Sommerfeld dominated the Waterloo hitters he faced, striking out two and earning his first save of the year. Austin Jones was awarded the win for his inning and one-third relief appearance, giving up one run on two hits and striking out one in his season debut for the Chinooks. Bucks pitcher Nate Spielvogel was issued the loss for the game-winning run he allowed in the top of the tenth on Matt Johnson’s sacrifice fly.

The Chinooks and Bucks will square off again on Friday to finish off the series in Waterloo.

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