The Bucks dropped the first game of the series against the Honkers on Thursday, 7-5. The game featured a number of lead changes, including the Bucks gaining the lead in the 8th before the Honkers got the lead back in the 9th. The Bucks fall to 31-30 overall and 12-14 in the second half of the season. The Honkers move to 25-36 overall, with a record of 10-16 in the second half.
The Bucks started the scoring off in the first inning when Kevin Kaczmarski drove in Thomas Lindauer with an RBI single. Kaczmarski was able to reach second on the play due to an error and was then driven in by Sean Borman, putting the home team up 2-0.
In the 2nd, starter Brock Hudgens was able to get out of a bases loaded jam and maintain the Bucks lead. A diving catch by Benny Roberts in the third inning kept the shutout going.
The Bucks would add to their lead in the 4th when Jordan Adams scored on a wild pitch. Adams had singled earlier in the inning and was advanced by a single by Davis Hendrickson and a deep fly to center by Connor McClain. The Bucks were up 3-0 after the 4th.
Brock Hudgens continued his excellent start and got out of another jam in the 6th when he forced a double play to end the inning with runners on the corners.
Hudgens would come out in the 7th inning after giving up one run in six and two-thirds innings pitched. He had five strikeouts and three walks. Following a recent trend, the Bucks bullpen let the visitors back in the game. Shane Trattles gave up two runs in his home debut in the 7th and Justin Grijalva gave up one in the 8th, allowing the visitors to take the lead, 4-3. Trattles went just one-third of an inning while Grijalva went two-thirds of an inning.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Bucks would storm back to take the lead. With two outs, Adams and Hendrickson each were able to draw walks and Connor McClain in his first game at home since his return hit a double to score both runs, giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead.
Brett Andrzejewski was the Bucks pitcher in the 9th and got some help from his catcher, Dan Sheppard who gunned down the first runner to reach base for the first out. Unfortunately, Honkers hitter Chad Wallach hit a solo home run over the centerfield wall to tie the game. After that, the next batter singled and Ben Lahn hit the second home run of the inning, giving the visitors a 7-5 lead. The Bucks would not reach base in the bottom of the inning, dropping game one of the series.
With the loss, the Bucks are now four and a half games back of the Willmar Stingers who are currently still playing.
The blue and yellow take on the Honkers tomorrow night in game two of the series with first pitch set for 6:35 pm. Remember to check out waterloobucks.com for all your latest Bucks information.