Waterloo takes on Duluth for the final time in the regular season on Friday night

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=367927

By: Jared Shlensky

WATERLOO, Iowa – Leading 4-3 at the start of the eighth, Waterloo couldn’t hold off a late rally from Duluth on Thursday night, as the Bucks fell to the Huskies, 6-4. The loss was the Bucks’ fourth straight and second straight loss at home.  

Waterloo (4-5, 26-18) took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first. Matt Morrow reached on an infield single to begin the frame. Zach Weatherford then reached on a fielder’s choice, resulting in Morrow being out at first. Weatherford then stole second before Robert Nestrom pulled a single through the right side, scoring Weatherford from second.

Duluth (3-6, 21-24) took their first lead of the night with two, two-out runs in the top of the second. Liam Sabino was the first of six straight two-out baserunners to reach after recording the first Huskies hit with a single to left. Jake Pries followed Sabino with a single to right before Matt Brown deadlocked the game at 1-1 with an RBI single to left, bringing in Sabino from second. Brendan McClary then drew a walk to load the bases again before Brett Milazzo gave the Huskies their first lead of the night with an RBI infield single.

The Huskies extended their lead to two with another two-out run in the third. Sabino drew a walk to begin the inning before Brown was hit in the elbow, giving Duluth runners on first and second. Milazzo then drew a two-out walk to load the bases before Austrin Bernard was hit in the side, scoring Sabino.

Adam McGinnis cut the deficit to one with a solo home run in the fourth. The home run for McGinnis was his team-leading eighth of the season and his league-leading 41st RBI.

The Bucks regained the lead with two, two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth. Weatherford started the frame with an infield single before Neustrom singled to right for his second hit of the day. Curtis put Waterloo back in front with a two-run triple off the left-center field fence, plating both Weatherford and Neustrom.

Duluth tied the game at 4-4 with their fourth two-out run of the evening in the eighth. Dillon Paulson led off the inning with a walk but was out at second after Reeves reached on a fielder’s choice. Reeves then stole second before Pries brought him in with an RBI single down the left field line.

The Huskies secured the win with two runs in the top of the ninth. Milazzo reached base for the fourth time with a single to right. Bernard followed Milazzo with a single to center before Carter Hanford made it 5-4 with an RBI single down the right field line. After Paulson was hit to load the bases, Reeves increased the Duluth lead to 6-4 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Bernard from third for the final run of the game.

Nathan Spielvogel and Patrick Boyle each threw a scoreless inning of relief while Daniel Agramont retired all four batters he faced in 1 1/3 innings. Hunter Spencer made his second appearance out of the bullpen in as many days, allowing no runs in 2/3 of an inning.

Derek Hendrixson (4-1) was charged with the loss in relief. The All-Star allowed three runs on four hits, striking out two and walking one.

Drew Mullinax (1-0) earned his first win of the year in relief. The southpaw yielded two hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The Bucks resume their four-game homestand on Friday in the series finale vs. Duluth. First pitch in the final meeting of the regular season between the two teams is at 7:05 p.m. Waterloo sends RHP Brett Solano (3-3, 4.34) to the hill while the Huskies counter with RHP Alex Ferguson (1-1, 5.12)

It’s Frozen Night, presented by Burger King, Great Clips and Maid-Rite of Cedar Falls at Riverfront Stadium on Friday. Fans will have an opportunity to take with Elsa, Anna and Olaf. Friday’s game is also a Flat Screen Friday, a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza and a Team Photo Giveaway. Fans age 18 and older can register to win one of three flat screen TV’s, courtesy of Kaplan University. The first 500 fans to Friday’s contest receive a free team photo.  

All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.