Box Score

Duluth, MN – With the score tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Jordan Adams stepped to the plate with the bases empty. On a 2-2 count, Adams crushed a ball over the left field fence to give the Bucks a 5-4 lead in a game that they led 4-0 at one point. However, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two strikes, a two-run double to right-center field from the Huskies would give them the 6-5 victory in dramatic fashion. With the loss, Waterloo falls to 19-13 while Duluth is now 6-1 against the blue and yellow this season to go with a 16-14 overall record. 

On the mound facing the Bucks for a third time this season was Joey Novak (5-0). Novak was a perfect 5-0 in five starts prior to this game including two wins against Waterloo. He had also never given up more than two earned runs in a 2012 start and his 1.86 ERA was good for third in the league. The guests were hoping that the third time was the charm against the junior from Harvard.

In the top of the second, Thomas Lindauer singled and stole second. The next batter, Jason Hockemeyer brought home Lindauer on a hit and run to put the visitors up 1-0. They would add to that lead in the top of the third. Nico Zych started it off with a single and one out later, he reached third on a double from Riley Good. The cleanup batter, Benny Roberts brought them both home with a double and RBIs number 26 and 27. Kevin Kaczmarski then scored Roberts with a single to give the Bucks their largest lead of the game at 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth for the hosts, an RBI double, RBI single and a run scored on a wild pitch cut the deficit to one, 4-3. In the fifth, Duluth had runners on first and second with two outs. A ground ball was hit to the shortstop Lindauer up the middle. Lindauer tried to throw the runner out at first but threw it wide and a run scored to knot the game up at 4-4. A walk loaded up the bases. With the bases full of Huskies, Brian Hansen stepped to the plate. He lined a ball to the right side and first baseman Hockemeyer made a game-saving play diving to his right and catching the liner for the third out.

That set the stage for Adams’ solo bomb to give the Bucks a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the frame, another error from Lindauer would put the tying run on and allow him to advance to second. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third. A walk put runners at the corners and Kellen Camus would strikeout the next batter for a very important second out. In stepped the same guy who scored the fourth run of the game for Duluth, Treyson Vavra. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, Vavra laced a double to right-center field to give the Huskies a 6-5 victory.

On the bump for the Bucks was Missouri State product, Jake Powers. Powers went five and two thirds and gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking just one. In relief, Justin Grijalva didn’t give up a run in 1.2 innings. Then came Camus (0-1) who went an inning and a third and gave up the rwo runs from the double, both of which were unearned due to Lindauer’s error. 

Novak received a no decision, something other than a win for the first time this season. He threw six innings and gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking one. Michael Gunn (1-0) gets the win after throwing three innings of one-run baseball.

Freddy Villalobos was the only Buck with multiple hits while Roberts had two RBI and Adams and Hockemeyer each chipped in an RBI a piece.

Next up, Waterloo travels to division-leading Mankato for a three-game set to end the first half of the Northwoods season. First pitch Monday is set for 7:05. Keep checking back into www.waterloobucks.com for all the latest information on The Cedar Valley’s Home Team.

In other news, the Bucks have waived pitcher Zachary Pettiford.