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Published On: June 25th, 2016

Bucks-WIN-Web

Adam McGinnis’s two homer night gave Waterloo the series sweep over the Willmar Stingers on Friday

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316831

By: Jared Shlensky

WILLMAR, Minn. Adam McGinnis homered in the top of the eighth with two outs to tie the game at 5-5 before belting a 10th-inning grand slam to push the Bucks pass the Willmar Stingers, 9-5, in the series finale from Bill Taunton Stadium. The two homers for McGinnis gives him a team-leading five on the year and increases his league-leading RBI total to 28.  

Taylor Boyd led off the 10th with a double down the right field line before Zach Weatherford and Tyler Curtis drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for McGinnis. With a 1-1 count, McGinnis took Pearson McMahan (0-1) deep to left-center to secure the win.

Waterloo (16-7) scored first with a run in the bottom of the first. Boyd led off the inning with a single to left for the first hit of the night. After Weatherford struck out looking, Curtis drew his first of three walks to give the Bucks runners on first and second. McGinnis then struck out swinging for the second out of the inning before Zack Soria drew a walk to load the bases. Luke Stratman then drew the third walk of the inning, this time with the bases loaded to score Boyd.

Willmar (11-13) countered with three runs in the fourth. Danny Pardo reached second on a Waterloo fielding error to start the inning. Justin Toerner then tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI doubled to right. Kole Cottam followed Toerner with a single to left, giving the Stingers runners on the corners. Eddie Estrada then drew a walk before Brandon Perez gave the Stingers their first lead of the night with a bases-loaded walk, bringing in Toerner. Cole Gray doubled the Stingers’ lead to two with a sacrifice fly to left-center, scoring Cottam.

Waterloo deadlocked the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Z. Soria reached on an infield single to start the inning before back-to-back walks by Stratman and Alex Boxwell loaded the bases. Daniel Perry cut the Willmar lead to one with a sacrifice fly to center before Robert Neustrom tied the game with a two-out RBI single back through the middle.

Willmar regained the lead with two runs in the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Cottam and Estrada gave the Stingers runners on the corners to begin the bottom of the sixth. Perez then drew a walk to load the bases before Tyler Smith made it 5-3 with a two-run single to right field.

The Bucks tied the game in the eighth before going on to win in the 10th. Curtis drew his last of three walks with two-outs in the inning before McGinnis belted his first of two home runs to left-center. The multi-home run night was the first of the year for Waterloo and the first for McGinnis in his two seasons with the Bucks.

McGinnis led the Bucks offense with three hits (two home runs) and a season-high six RBI while the Waterloo defense turned a season-high five double plays (all inning-ending).

Derek Hendrixson (3-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. The right-hander walked one and struck out one in his second straight appearance.

McMahan allowed four runs on two hits, striking out three and walking two in an inning of relief.

The Bucks look to extend their winning streak to three with a win on Saturday against the Duluth Huskies. First pitch in the series opener is at 6:35 p.m. RHP Steven Baker (0-0, 1.04) gets the ball for Waterloo while LHP Riley Gates (0-0, 8.00) counters for Duluth.  

Waterloo returns home to Riverfront Stadium on Monday, June 27th vs. La Crosse. Monday’s game is another Buck Night. 10 oz. draft beer, 12 oz. fountain soda, small popcorn and ice cream sandwiches are $1.00 while hot dogs are just $1.50. All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online with Jared Shlensky on waterloobucks.com.