Waterloo, IA – Waterloo scored first but fell behind to Alexandria 2-1 in this third game of a five-game set. Jake Powers led the way on the mound and the bats came to life. The Bucks then batted around in both the 7th and 8th innings and held off a late rally from the Beetles to win by a score of 10-5. With the win, the blue and yellow improve to 13-5 while dropping Alexandria to 6-11.
Waterloo continues to be the highest scoring team in the Northwoods League but it’s sidekick, pitching came to play tonight as well. Getting the ball to start was Jake Powers (1-1). He was looking to rebound from his first start of the season and did just that. Powers threw seven very solid innings while giving up two runs, both earned on seven hits while striking out four Beetles and walking none. He cut his ERA in half with the outing.
Now lets get to the scoring. The home team struck first but not until the bottom of the fourth when Kevin Kaczmarski hit his team-leading fourth home run.
The visitors took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of that frame with a bases loaded groundout as well as an RBI double down the right field line.
Then came the 7th and 8th innings in which the hosts put the game away. To start the 7th, Kaczmarski doubled. Thomas Lindauer then bunted it down the first base line but the pitcher wasn’t to the base in time to put runners on the corners. Then on a double steal, Kaczmarski scored to tie it at 2-2 and Lindauer advanced to second. Peter Leonello then walked with two outs followed by a walk from Davis Hendrickson to load them up for Austin Barrett. Barrett came through with a two-RBI single up the middle. Sean Borman then brought in run number five for the Bucks with an RBI single of his own.
Kaczmarski started off the 8th inning again but this time with a base on balls. Lindauer hit a single to the left side and Nico Zych was hit by a pitch to pack the bags. Riley Good grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to bring Kaczmarski home making it 6-2. Leonello walked to put them on the corners and Hendrickson blooped a single to shallow left scoring Lindauer. Barrett loaded them up yet again with a single and then Borman cleared them all with a two-bagger to right field making the score 10-2.
The Beetles brought across three runs in the second to cut the deficit in half but that is how it would stand as the good guys earned the 10-5 victory.
In relief of Powers, Justin Grijalva threw a scoreless inning and Reed Reilly gave up three runs, none of them earned, in one inning of relief to finish the contest.
At the plate, Borman tallied four RBI while Hendrickson, Barrett and Kaczmarski each brought in one a piece. Kaczmarski scored three times, Leonello, Hendrickson and Lindauer twice, and once more from Barrett. The Bucks totaled 13 hits on the night as the offense continues to lead the way.
Next up is game four of this five-game set with first pitch set for 3:05 tomorrow with gates opening at 2:00 pm. Continue checking back into www.waterloobucks.com for all the latest information on The Cedar Valley’s Home Team.