The Bucks scored four runs in the top of the ninth to take their first lead of the series, but could not hang on in a 6-5 walk-off loss against the Border Cats.
THUNDER BAY, Ontario – The Waterloo Bucks (17-17), again, had victory snatched from their clutches in a 6-5 loss to the Thunder Bay Border Cats (15-17) Sunday evening at Port Arthur Stadium. Trailing by four runs after the seventh inning with the pressure starting to amount, the Bucks plated a run in the eighth and four with one out in the ninth to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the inning. Then, after two walks on two outs, Thunder Bay’s Joe Gellenbeck (Xavier) hit a two-run double to the alley in right to send Waterloo on the long ride home with a loss.
Sean Trimble (2-3) (Long Beach St.) took the loss in the ninth for the Bucks after yielding the two walks and the two-run double. Taylor Boyd (St. Joseph’s) led the offensive charge with three base-hits and two runs scored while Charlie Naso, Jr. (Illinois) kept Waterloo within fighting distance after providing 3 2/3 frames of scoreless action out of the bullpen.
Alan Baldwin (Hawaii) put the Border Cats in front, 1-0, in the bottom of the fourth after hitting a double to left to open the inning. Dan Rizzie (Xavier) pushed him across with his first hit as a Border Cat, a single to right field.
Thunder Bay grabbed a 4-0 lead in the fifth on three walks and two singles, forcing a Waterloo pitching change during the frame.
Carson McPherson (Murray St.) exited as the Waterloo starter with one out and the bases loaded in the inning. In his seventh start, McPherson gave up four runs on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Naso, Jr. got the final two outs in the fifth, but not before surrendering a bases-loaded walk and a run-scoring single. The right-handed reliever ended his stint after 3 2/3 scoreless frames, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out a pair.
Waterloo got in the scoring column in the top of the eighth when Zach Soria (Florida International) singled in Taylor Boyd (St. Joseph’s). Boyd recorded his second hit of the game to open the frame, and scored to make it a 4-1 contest.
With one out in the top of the ninth, the Bucks rallied against the Border Cat bullpen for four runs on four hits and two walks. Boyd sent Tyler Selesky (Florida Gulf Coast) across as the first run with a bases-loaded single. Next, Luke Stratman (Lamar CC) belted his own bases-loaded single through an infield gap to score Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem St.) and make it a one-run game.
Then, Zach Soria took ball four on a full-count pitch to bring in Alex Boxwell (Minnesota) on a bases-loaded walk. Boyd raced across home during the next at-bat on a wild pitch to give the Bucks their first lead of the series, 5-4.
But, the momentum would soon subside as the Border Cats drew a pair of two-out walks against Trimble. Gellenbeck drove them in on one swing to steal the 6-5 victory over Waterloo.
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 games with 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.