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The Bucks had two men thrown out at the plate from center field as the Honkers stole a 3-2 decision at Mayo Field.
By: Matt Gruemmer, Waterloo Bucks
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Waterloo Bucks (29-29/11-11) threatened in the late-innings, but were hindered by a three-run opening inning as they fell 3-2 to the Rochester Honkers (31-27/11-13) Sunday afternoon at Mayo Field. After allowing all three of Rochester’s run in the first, Zach Siggelkow (0-1) (St. Cloud St.) was unstoppable on the mound, retiring 12 straight Honkers’ hitters into the seventh. The left-handed starter took the loss in the contest following failed scoring attempts by the Bucks in the late innings.
Waterloo challenged in the top of the first with one run on three Rochester errors, but failed to convert with the bases loaded and nobody out in the frame. After the first two Bucks’ batters reached on errors to the middle of the infield, Tyler Selesky (Florida Gulf Coast) came across on an errant ground ball off the bat of Zach McKinstry (Central Michigan) for the 1-0 lead.
Then, the Honkers rallied for a trio of scores to take the definitive 3-1 advantage. Alex Schulz (Nebraska-Omaha) received a lead-off walk and came through on a costly ground-ball error hit by Matt Fiedler (Minnesota). After a Mark Contreras (UC Riverside) single, Joe DeRoche-Duffin (Connecticut) plated Fielder with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Before Siggelkow and the defense could escape the inning, Dempsey Grover sent a run-scoring double to the gap in right-center field to tally the inning’s third and final run. After a lengthy first frame, both Siggelkow and Joshua Pigg (Hawaii) would settle in on the mound.
The Bucks garnered another run in the top of the fourth when Tim Millard (Dallas Baptist) drove in Zach Soria (Florida International) with a two-out single up the middle. The run-scoring hit was the first for Millard in his Northwoods League debut.
Siggelkow retired 12 consecutive Honkers before exiting in the bottom of the seventh after hitting a man with a pitch and recording a fly out. In his second start, the southpaw allowed three runs, one earned, with one walk and two strikeouts in the losing decision.
Returning to the roster on Saturday, Charlie Naso, Jr. (Illinois) entered out of the bullpen and found a way out of the seventh. The right-handed reliever went the rest of the way for the Bucks on the mound, compiling 1 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit and one base on balls allowed.
The Bucks had the potential tying runner thrown out at home in the seventh and at third in the eighth to end their scoring threats in the game. With the loss, Waterloo is now even, 2-2, with the Honkers in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup in 2015.
Waterloo returns for a two-game home stand against the Eau Claire Express on Monday and Tuesday with both contests scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
Monday marks another Buck Monday where fans can get regular hot dogs for just $1.50, plus 10 oz. draft beer, 12 oz. sodas, small popcorn, and ice cream sandwiches are just $1 each! Sponsored by K98.5.
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.
