Waterloo continues its five-game road trip on Friday vs. Thunder Bay
Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316945
By: Jared Shlensky
DULUTH, Minn. – Four errors from Duluth and a six-run fifth inning paced Waterloo to a 9-7 win over the Huskies on Thursday night in the series finale. The win extends the Bucks’ winning streak to four and makes them a perfect 2-0 in the second half.
Waterloo (2-0, 24-13) scored for the second straight night in the first to take a 1-0 lead. Taylor Boyd drew a four-pitch walk to begin the game. After Lane Milligan lined out sharply to left, Tyler Curtis singled to left, moving Boyd all the way up to third. Adam McGinnis made it 1-0 with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Boyd.
Duluth (0-2, 18-20) took their first lead of the evening with two runs of their own in the first. Daniel Amaral led off the frame with a single to center before Reid tripled to right-center, bringing in Amaral all the way from first. Justin Ambrosino gave Duluth a 2-1 advantage with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Reid.
The Bucks tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the third. Boyd led off the inning with an infield single to the left side before Milligan reached on a Duluth fielding error. Curtis evened the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to center, bringing around Boyd from second on his second hit of the night.
Waterloo took its second lead of the night with another run in the fourth. Daniel Perry drew a walk before stealing second. Perry then moved up to third on a wild pitch. Boyd drew a five-pitch walk to give the Bucks runners on the corners. Boyd stole second to move into scoring position, however, Perry took off for home on the throw from Chase Barbary down to second, just beating the return throw to the plate from shortstop Liam Sabino.
The Bucks plated six runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 9-2. Curtis reached on a Duluth fielding error to begin the inning before McGinnis brought him in with an RBI double to left-center. Brody Weiss, Matt Morrow and Alex Boxwell each drew one-out walks to load the bases. Boyd made it 8-2 with a bases-clearing double before Milligan increased the Bucks’ lead to seven with an RBI single down the left field line.
Duluth trimmed the Waterloo deficit to 9-5 with two runs in the eighth. Sabino was hit in the side with one out before Jake Priesz singled to center, however, the throw to third allowed Priesz to advance to second. Mitch Reeves followed Priesz with a two-run single to center, plating both Sabino and Priesz.
The Huskies added three more in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as Waterloo went on to win by two. Amaral led off the frame with a single to center before Long moved him to second with a groundout to the right side. Austin Bernard moved Amaral to third with a single to left before Sabino was hit for the second time on the night to load the bases. Priesz made it 9-6 with a two-run single to center before Reeves made it 9-7 with an RBI single.
Jared Crescentini (4-1) recorded his second win of the year against Duluth in the series finale. The right-hander went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out three and walking four.
Nate Spielvgoel worked a perfect sixth inning while Jonathan Buckley tossed a scoreless seventh in relief. Andy Muehlberger allowed two runs in the eighth inning while Daniel Agramont allowed three runs in the ninth.
Michael Bruhin (0-1) suffered the loss in his Northwoods League debut. The southpaw allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits, walking and striking out three over 4 1/3 innings.
The Bucks continue their five-game road trip on Friday in the start of a two-game set against the Thunder Bay Border Cats. First pitch in the series opener from Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, is at 6:05 p.m. RHP Brett Solano (3-2, 4.95) opposes Thunder Bay’s RHP Gunnar Kay (0-1, 5.70) in the series opener.
Waterloo returns home to Riverfront Stadium on Sunday, July 10th, for the start of a two-game series vs. the Eau Claire Express. First pitch in the series opener on Sunday is at 3:35 p.m.
Sunday’s game is another Kids Eat Free game and a Kids Candy Hunt. Kids 12 and under receive a hot dog, soda and popcorn for free. After the game, kids 12 and under are encouraged to stay for the Kids Candy Hunt. Candy will be spread throughout the infield grass for kids to pick up.
All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.
