Thunder Bay (ONT) Will Sparks’ broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning with a two-run single and the Waterloo Bucks defeated the Thunder Bay Border Cats 6-4 at Port Arthur Stadium on Thursday night.  Adam Dian plowed through the Thunder Bay order in the bottom of the ninth, striking out three players on nine pitches to seal the victory.

The win, coupled with Willmar’s loss to Duluth, moves the Bucks into first place in the North Division with six games remaining in the first half.

The Bucks trailed 4-3 after the Border Cats plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Waterloo rallied to tie the game in the seventh when David Kerian came up with the bases loaded and reached on an infield single behind second base.

Waterloo continually had chances to score all night but had difficulty driving in runs, but momentum remained in the Bucks’ favor because of the relief pitching of Steve Maher, J.D. Moore and Dian. The three combined for five scoreless innings, limiting Thunder Bay to only a single hit.

The Bucks would get the game winning runs in the ninth inning. Chensy Young walked and beat a throw to second on David Kerian’s bunt, to put runners at first and second.

Jake Mahon then dropped a sac bunt to move both into scoring position to set-up Sparks who laced a two-run single into centerfield to put the Bucks’ in front 6-4.

Dian closed the door with three strikeouts, all swinging, on nine pitches.

Thunder Bay took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Waterloo rallied with three runs in the third inning, thanks to a John Ziznewski RBI double and a pair of fielding errors by starting pitcher John Hayes.

The Border Cats reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning with three runs of their own.