Waterloo, IA – The Missouri State product, Jake Powers turned in the longest and most effective outing of any Bucks pitcher this summer. The bats also did their part at the dish by bringing in seven runs on ten hits compared to three runs on five hits from the St. Cloud Rox. With the 7-3 victory, Waterloo improves to 6-9 in the second half including 25-25 overall. St. Cloud falls to 8-8 and 17-33 in 2012.
Powers was one out shy of the complete game with eight and two thirds innings pitched. The Cottleville, Missouri native gave up three runs but none of them were earned on four hits while striking out ten opposing hitters and only giving free passes two times. Kellen Camus got the final out of the game on a strikeout while also giving up one hit.
The home team struck first in the bottom of the first when last night’s NWL Player of the Night, Freddy Villalobos reached on an error and allowed Dan Sheppard to score. Three more crossed the plate in the third to make the score 4-0 in favor of the blue and yellow. Thomas Lindauer started things off with a double followed by a walk from Benny Roberts. Both runners would advance on a wild pitch and then they would score on a single by Dan Sheppard and an error from the center fielder. One out later, Villalobos brought in Sheppard with a single to right field.
The scoring would continue with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sheppard started things off with a single and the next batter, Sean Borman would put runners on first and second with a walk. After a pitching substitution, Villalobos moved Sheppard to third on a flyout. Jordan Adams then loaded them up after being hit by a pitch. With the bases juiced, Jason Hockemeyer cleared the bases with a double to center field and made the score 7-0 in favor of the Bucks.
In the top of the ninth, the Rox scored three but because the first runner of the inning reached on an error, none of them went down as earned for Powers. Camus then came in to seal the 7-3 victory and salvage one of three in this set with St. Cloud.
Next up, Waterloo is in Alexandria for a three-game set with the Alexandria Beetles Friday through Sunday. First pitch the first two games is set for 7:05 p.m. while the Sunday showdown will begin at 3:05 p.m. Then comes the All-Star break on Monday the 23rd through Wednesday the 25th. The All-Star Game is being played at the "Duck Pond," the home of the Madison Mallards in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. Keep checking back into www.waterloobucks.com for all of your latest information on The Cedar Valley’s Home Team.