Five unearned runs allowed defensively, and just three hits collected offensively, hurt the Bucks in a 6-2 loss at St. Cloud.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Waterloo Bucks (18-19) could not recover from a defensive five-run third inning against the St. Cloud Rox (20-15) in a 6-2 setback at Joe Faber Field Wednesday night. Three hits, two walks and a pair of Waterloo errors in the bottom of the third proved to be the difference as St. Cloud plated five unearned runs to open up the second half and month of July in the Northwoods League.
Golden Gophers Alex Boxwell (Minnesota) and Matthew Stemper (Minnesota) provided the two RBIs on the night as the Bucks dropped their sixth straight road decision. Jordan Desguin (1-2) (Florida Gulf Coast) took the loss for the Bucks in the game, laboring through five innings of five run ball. The starter gave up five runs, none earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out five in his second losing start of the year.
Taylor Lane (Florida) sent the Bucks in front, 1-0, in the second after scoring on Boxwell’s one-out sacrifice fly to right field. Lane led-off the frame with a single to give Waterloo the lead early.
St. Cloud erased the small deficit with a five-run rally in the bottom of the third. Reese Gregory (St. Cloud St.) tied the game after coming in on a fielder’s choice ground ball to third base while teammate Lee Miller (Davidson) coaxed a bases-loaded walk to give the Rox their first lead, 2-1.
Then, with two outs and the bases filled, Boxwell misplayed a fly ball off the bat of John Sansone (Florida St.) in centerfield. The dropped-ball error allowed the bases to clear, resulting in a 5-1 St. Cloud lead heading to the fourth.
Andrew Muehlberger (Coffeyville CC) made his Northwoods League and Waterloo debut in the bottom of the sixth and closed the game for the Bucks on the mound. The reliever gave up one run on two hits along with a walk over his first three frames out of the bullpen.
The Rox manufactured an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when Jake Farr (Tennessee Tech) scored on a first-base-side ground ball hit by Brett Pope (Western Carolina) to increase the deficit, 6-1.
Matthew Stemper narrowed the gap to 6-2 in the top of the eighth by doubling in Zach McKinstry (Central Michigan) with a line drive to the wall in left. However, the Bucks could not rally in the late-goings, being shut down by Brett DeGagne (North Dakota) in the eighth and ninth frames.
The Bucks close the two-game series with the Rox Friday at 7:05 p.m. (CT) from Joe Faber Field. Waterloo returns home Friday, July 3rd, to open a four-game home stand featuring two games with both the Battle Creek Bombers and Willmar Stingers.
Friday’s contest with Battle Creek marks a Flat Screen Friday where fans ages 18 and older can register to win one of three 32" flat screen TVs. It will also be a FIREWORKS Extravaganza night with post-game fireworks following the Bucks’ contest with Battle Creek.
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.