Waterloo, IA – Soggy and wet conditions rolled through the area and forced the Rox season opener to start after a one hour and ten minute rain delay at Riverfront Stadium. Despite only mustering three hits through the first seven innings, St. Cloud exploded in the eighth frame with four runs on five hits. This rally just came up short in the end as St. Cloud (0-1) fell to Waterloo (1-0) 7-4 following the long rain delay.

The eighth inning brought excitement for St. Cloud. LHP Aaron Rozek (Minnesota State-Mankato) and 1B Austin LaDoux (Grand Valley State University) delivered two RBI doubles in the left and right center gaps respectively. This was part of a stretch of five consecutive hits to begin the eighth frame.

Waterloo got the bats started first in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single from Blake Alexander (Dallas Baptist) to score Daniel Perry. Tyler Curtis (Lynn University) recorded an RBI double to centerfield and that extended the lead for Waterloo at 2-0 after three innings.

The offense continued in the fifth inning in large part to a couple of miscues from the Rox. After a St. Cloud double play, LHP Aaron Rozek (Minnesota State-Mankato) plunked C Adam McGinnis (Western Illinois) and that led to a mini spark for the Bucks. McGuinnis advanced to second base on a past ball and then came around to score following an RBI single from Colin Kreiter (Kirkwood CC). Waterloo led 4-0 after five innings.

Rox starting pitcher Austin Caspersen (St. Cloud State) stepped on the gas pedal in the second inning after a rough first. The right-hander registered three strikeouts in the frame. Despite taking the loss, Caspersen finished his night with four innings of work, six hits, two runs, and four strikeouts. Those four strikeouts tied his career high for the most strikeouts he has had in a Northwoods League game.

St. Cloud leadoff hitter Shelby Lackey (University of the Pacific) was also a bright spot in the batting order. The centerfielder (normally pitcher) reached base all four times he came to bat (three singles, hit-by-pitch).

The pitching for Waterloo helped propel them to victory and especially starter RHP Jared Crescentini (Missouri Baptist). Crescentini tossed six scoreless innings and only surrendered three hits en route to earning the victory.

The Rox (0-1) are back in action and have a chance to rebound Wednesday night at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, IA. RHP Austin Dubsky (Murray State) will start for St. Cloud. Meanwhile, Waterloo (1-0) counters with LHP Patrick Boyle (Missouri Baptist). First pitch is at 7:05pm CT on 1390AM or 1390thefan.com. The Rox Solid Pregame Warmup begins 30 minutes prior at 6:35pm CT!

Tonight’s St. Cloud Times Player of the Game is Shelby Lackey (University of the Pacific). For more coverage of the Rox during the 2016 season visit www.sctimes.com.

For more stats and information about tonight’s game, here is the boxscore:

http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316619

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

It’s opening week in Minnesota in the Northwoods League presented by Minnesota College Savings Plan.

The Minnesota College Savings Plan, is Minnesota’s official 529 college savings plan. It takes just $25 to start, making it easier for families to save for higher education expenses. Funds saved can be used at colleges, technical schools and grad schools nationwide to cover the cost of tuition, as well as books, supplies and other qualified expenses. Additionally, SavingforCollege.com recently ranked the Minnesota College Savings Plan as one of the nation’s top performing direct sold 529 plans. Find out more at www.mnsaves.org

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23^rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest summer collegiate 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.  For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com.