Waterloo, IA – The Bucks went through two pitchers and scored five runs with just one hit in the top of the first to take an early advantage. Alexandria was never able to regain the lead as those five were enough for a 11-7 victory for the hosts. With the win, Waterloo improves to 12-4 while the Beetles fall to 5-10 in their 2012 campaign.
For Alex Lakatos, the starter for the visiting Alexandria Beetles, it was a night he wanted to forget as soon as he left the game. The home team scored four runs on him with only one hit. He walked five batters, had two balks, threw two wild pitches, didn’t retire a single Buck, and his ball-to-strike ratio was 2:1. Then came new pitcher Shawn Riesgraf. Nico Zych hit a fielder’s choice off of him scoring Sean Borman for the fifth run of the inning. Borman reached with a single and was a triple short of the cycle on the evening.
In the bottom of the third, Waterloo added to their 5-0 lead with three more runs. Davis Hendrickson hit an RBI triple scoring both Jordan Adams and Borman. One out later, Zych scored Hendrickson with an RBI single.
Alexandria scored their first runs of the game in the top of the 4th with two solo shots to make the score 8-2. The home runs were hit by Jimmy Pickens and Ryan Padilla one out later.
Borman got one back with a solo shot (2) in the bottom of the 4th but the Beetles would continue to battle. They scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 5th to cut the deficit to five, 9-4.
In the bottom of that inning, Peter Leonello and Zych would score on a two-run error via the shortstop increasing the advantage back to seven, 11-4.
The guests got runs five and six in the top of the 6th with an RBI single and fielder’s choice, respectively. They then scored their final run by way of an RBI single in the top of the 7th to make it 11-7 and that score would hold for the blue and yellow.
Starting for Waterloo was Central Michigan product, Jordan Foley (3-0). Foley lasted five innings while giving up three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out one. In relief, Reed Reilly was making his first appearance as a member of the Bucks. He threw one inning while giving up two runs on two hits. He struck out and walked one batter a piece. Ryan Doty then continued his dominant 2012 effort with two no-hit innings while striking out two and walking one.
Leading the way at the plate was Borman who was three of five with three runs scored and two RBI. Adams and Hendrickson each added two hits and a run scored with Hendrickson bringing in three RBI. Leonello, Benny Roberts and Zych each had a hit as well as an RBI from Zych and reigning player of the week, Austin Barrett.
Next up, the Bucks continue this set with game number two against the Beetles. First pitch tomorrow is set for 6:35 p.m. Keep checking back to www.waterloobucks.com for all the latest news on the Cedar Valley’s Home Team.