Waterloo surrendered two runs late in the series-finale to the Stingers in a 4-2 setback.
WILLMAR, Minn. – Tied, 2-2, going into the final three frames, the Waterloo Bucks (17-15) allowed two late-inning runs to fall, 4-2, against the Willmar Stingers (19-11) Friday night at Bill Taunton Stadium. Brian Pruett (Florida Gulf Coast) proved to be the nemesis against the Bucks for the second night in a row, driving in two runs and hitting the go-ahead solo homerun to open the seventh inning. Taylor Lane (Florida) was the bright spot in the Waterloo lineup after he tallied two RBIs on two singles in the defeat.
The Waterloo pitching staff gave up only six hits on the night, but gave up eight free bases with six walks and two hit batsmen while the team’s offense was only able to collect four hits on the night. Sean Trimble (2-2) (Long Beach St.) took the loss on the mound after surrendering the inning-opening homerun to Pruett in the seventh.
Lane singled in Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem St.) to shallow left field to send the Bucks in the scoring column early in the opening inning. Hill somersaulted over the catcher to score on a bang-bang play at the plate to send Waterloo in front, 1-0.
Willmar took the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth on one hit and an error. Ky Parrott (James Madison) scored the inning’s first run on a throwing error from Desguin to the first base bag on a Stinger sacrifice bunt. Then, Pruett lined a single to right field with two outs to score Tyler Leffler (Bradley) for the go-ahead run.
Jordan Desguin (Florida Gulf Coast) took an early leave for the Bucks after the two-run frame in the fourth. The Waterloo starter tossed four innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits alongside seven strikeouts and two walks in the no-decision start.
Trimble (2-2) opened the fifth out of the bullpen for the Bucks and finished his night following the one-run seventh. The reliever allowed one run on two hits over his three full innings while also striking out two and walking a single Stinger.
Zach Soria (Florida International) tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the sixth when he scored on Lane’s RBI-single to right field. Soria led off the frame with a double down the left field line, but Bucks squandered a chance after his game-tying score, stranding the bases loaded with nobody out in the frame.
Pruett quickly sent the Stingers back in front, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh when he sent the 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo homerun.
Ryan McCourt (Coffeyville CC) toed the bump in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered an insurance run to Willmar with a bases-loaded walk. McCourt allowed a hit, walked three and struck out one in his lone inning on the hill.
Willmar plated the game’s final run with the bases-loaded walk in the eighth to secure a 4-2 lead into the ninth. The Bucks failed to put together a rally, going hitless over four innings off of Brian Kehner (Presbyterian) out of the Stinger’s bullpen.
Waterloo travels to Thunder Bay for a two-game series with the Border Cats, beginning Saturday at 6:05 p.m. (ET). The Bucks will finish in Ontario Sunday at 5:05 (ET) before returning to home for an off-day on June 29.
The Bucks finish the seven-game stand with a traveling-doubleheader with the Rochester Honkers on June 30. Following game one of the day at 12:05 p.m. at Mayo Field, the two teams will drive to Riverfront Stadium to conclude the twin bill at 7:05 p.m. The two gameswith Rochester marks the first two contests in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup.
During the nightcap on June 30, the Bucks will have the Bill’s Pizza & Smokehouse Baseball Card Set Giveaway. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a Bucks Baseball Team Card Set, presented by Bill’s Pizza & Smokehouse.
It will also be a Two For Tuesday promotion! Follow the Bucks on Facebook or their email newsletter for a buy one ticket get one FREE offer for Tuesday home games. One lucky fan will win a pair of Minnesota Twins tickets given away at every Tuesday home game.
Tickets are available at waterloobucks.com. You can also visit the Bucks Ticket Office at Riverfront Stadium or call (319)-232-5633.
Bucks’ games are broadcast live on waterloobucks.com.
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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com.