Waterloo, IA – The St. Cloud Rox got back to their winning ways tonight with a collective effort resulting in an 8-0 win over the Waterloo Bucks. The Rox (5-2) enjoyed a stellar start from Austin Caspersen, who went seven innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three.

Caspersen (1-0) induced eight ground balls in his first start for the Rox and allowed only one base hit through six innings of play. Trevor Charpie finished the shutout for the Rox, going the final two innings, striking out one, while issuing one walk and allowing one base hit.

Offensively, the Rox pounded out 12 hits, five of them doubles, and were led by Eric Loxtercamp, who finished with two doubles and a 4-for-5 mark with a pair of runs batted in. Will Craig was 2-for-4 with two doubles as well, scoring twice and also drawing one walk. St. Cloud drew six base-on-balls as a team as Kyle Thornell led the way with three free passes. 

After three groundouts in the top of the first, the Rox first run came in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Garrett McMullen, scoring Craig who had reached earlier in the frame with his first double.  The Rox made it 2-0 in the following inning on Loxtercamp’s first double of the game, scoring Bradley Strong from second. The two hitters combined for another run in the fifth on back-to-back doubles against Waterloo starter Nick Veale (0-1). 

St. Cloud extended their 3-0 lead in the sixth on a two-out, two-run double by Liam Bedford, scoring Craig and Mitchell Kranson, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

The Rox tallied their last three runs in the seventh on a rally that saw eight hitters come to bat for St. Cloud. Loxtercamp began the inning with a single, followed by Chris Paul who did the same. Loxtercamp then scored on a hard hit ground ball back to the pitcher by Clay Ardeeser that was misplayed in the field by Waterloo shortstop Mikal Hill. After Craig walked to load the bases, Paul scored on a 3-6-1 double play to make it 7-0. McMullen then singled to make it 8-0 St. Cloud, a score line that would hold for the final three innings.

Waterloo (3-4) would have their best opportunity in the seventh against Caspersen, however, he would save his best stuff for last, striking out back-to-back batters to end Waterloo’s threat as the only frame the Bucks had more than one runner reach base.

The Rox now play one more with the Bucks tomorrow night in Waterloo at 6:35 p.m. before heading back to St. Cloud Wednesday for one game with the Alexandria Blue Anchors. Wednesday will be Rox Baseball Cap Giveaway Night at Joe Faber Field, presented by PreferredOne, and the first 350 fans will receive a special edition Rox cap.