Waterloo, IA- Zach Soria’s RBI single would be the difference for Waterloo, as the Bucks walked off on the MoonDogs for the second time this season in a win at Riverfront Stadium in the 10th inning, 3-2 on Monday night.
Zach Soria was just activated today for the Waterloo Bucks (13-8), but proved to be the difference in Monday night’s game going 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. The most important hit would be his last one with the bases loaded, as Soria would single in the game winning run to right field off of Mankato MoonDogs’ (9-11) pitcher Sam Myers (0-1).
The game was in hand for the MoonDogs until the bottom of the sixth inning, where Soria singled in Zach McKinstry and Adam McGinnis drove in Alex Boxwell to tie the game up at two runs a piece. The game would remain that way until Soria came back to the plate in the bottom of the tenth.
In the top of the sixth Mankato had pulled ahead to a 2-0 lead when Bucks’ pitcher Brent Jurceka would inherit a bases loaded situation. Jurecka would walk the first batter he faced in Kyle Weston, scoring Hunter Mercado-Hood who was standing at third base. Jurceka would work out of the jam by inducing a 5-3 double play from Catcher Kaden Moore, as Brinn Bell ran into a tag at third and Luke Stratman would throw out Moore at first base for an inning-ending double play.
Jack Flansburg scored the MoonDogs’ first run of the game, who was brought in by a Paul Panaccione single. That RBI base hit by the MoonDogs’ third baseman would be the only run scored in the first five frames of play at Riverfront Stadium.
Brent Jurceka (2-1) picked up the win for the Bucks, while Sam Myers was charged with the loss for Mankato. The MoonDogs will try to get a series split before heading back home to host Waterloo for the last games the two teams will play against each other for the season.
“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website."
