Rochester, MN – The Bucks took down the Honkers on Friday to split the series in a dominant 17-9 victory. The blue and yellow recorded a season high 20 hits on the night and used a six and eight run inning to blow the game wide open. While the pitching wasn’t perfect, all the runs were scored after the Bucks had already scored 15 runs. This win brings the Bucks to .500 on the second half of the season at 10-10 and an overall record of 29-26. The Honkers fell to 23-31 overall and 8-11 in the second half.
The Bucks were able to take a 1-0 lead right out of the gates when Thomas Lindauer scored on a wild pitch. In the 2nd inning the Bucks took advantage of a Honkers error for six runs, all of which were unearned. Connor McClain (started at third in first game back) and Davis Hendrickson each got a run off an error by the catcher. Connor McCallum scored later off an infield single by Kevin Kaczmarski. With Lindauer and Kaczmarski on base, Jordan Adams emptied the bases with his eighth home run of the year. This gave the Bucks a 7-0 lead.
With a big lead already, the blue and yellow erupted for eight more runs in the 5th inning. Two runs came off Benny Roberts when he hit his seventh home run of the season. After Dan Sheppard doubled and Kaczmarski singled to put runners on the corners, Adams once again cleared the bases with his second home run of the game and 9th home run of the year.
The home team would score five in the bottom of the 5th but the game was practically over by then as they were still down 15-5.
The visitors added two more runs in the 7th off a bases loaded walk to McCallum and a fielder’s choice hit by Roberts, giving the Bucks a 17-5 lead. The Honkers would add three more runs in the 8th and one in the 9th but it didn’t matter as they fell 17-9.
Every member of the Bucks recorded a hit and a run on the night, including four players with three or more hits and six players with multiple runs scored. Adams led the way for the Bucks with six RBI, all of them coming off his two home runs. Hendrickson tied for the most hits on the night, going four for six with three runs scored. McClain also had four hits in his first game back with the team, going four for five and scoring two runs.
Brock Hudgens got the start for the Bucks tonight and was excellent. He went five innings, striking out six and walking three with no runs scored. After Hudgens, Shane Trattles and Thomas Cardona, each new to the team, made their first appearances. Trattles had a rough start to his Bucks career, going just 0.2 innings and giving up five runs. Cardona was able to 1.1 innings of shutout baseball, giving up just one hit. Brett Andrzejewski and Michael Edlefsen each went an inning and gave up three and one runs respectively.
In other news the Bucks have waived Freddy Villalobos. As mentioned earlier, Connor McClain, Shane Trattles, and Thomas Cardona have all been signed, bringing the team to 24 active players.
Next up, the Bucks visit the Alexandria Beetles for a two game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. Remember to check out waterloobucks.com for all your latest Bucks information.