Waterloo concludes its four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon  vs. Willmar.

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317032

By: Jared Shlensky

WATERLOO, Iowa – A four-hit night from Brody Weiss wasn’t enough as the Waterloo Bucks fell to the Willmar Stingers, 8-6, on UNI Panther Pride Night. The Bucks never led and have now made an error in a season-high 15 consecutive games after committing two errors on Saturday.

Willmar (8-3, 26-31) struck first with an unearned run in the first. Dylan Woods reached on a Waterloo fielding error to begin the game. All-Star Danny Pardo followed Woods with a four-pitch walk. Woods and Pardo then moved up 90-feet after executing the double steal. A wild pitch from Steven Baker then brought in Woods from third for the first run of the game.

The Stingers extended their lead to 4-0 with three two-out runs in the second. Cole Cottam was the first of five baserunners to reach with two outs after singling to right. Tyler Smith then drew a walk before Woods singled to load the bases. Pardo doubled the Willmar lead with an RBI infield single before Greg Lambert increased the Stingers’ lead to four with a two-run single back through the middle.

Willmar went up by five with another run in the third. Justin Tuerner drew a walk to begin the inning before Eddie Estrada reached on the second Waterloo fielding error of the day. Luke Becker followed Estrada with an RBI single to right, putting the Stingers in front 5-0.

Waterloo (5-6, 27-19) trimmed Willmar’s lead to 5-3 with three two-out runs in the fourth. Robert Neustrom reached on a Stingers fielding error to start the frame before Travon Benton drew a two-out walk. Alex Boxwell got the Bucks on the board with an RBI double down the right field line, plating Neustrom from second. Weiss made it a two-run game with a two-run single down the left field line, bringing in both Benton and Boxwell.

The Stingers went back up by three with another run in the top of the fifth. Becker singled to center to begin the inning before Cottam was hit in knee. Smith then moved both baserunners up with a sacrifice bunt before pinch-hitter Quincy McAfee drew a walk to load the bases. Pardo put Willmar up 6-3 with an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Bucks cut the Stingers’ lead back to two with a run in the fifth. Neustrom led off the inning with a single to left-center before moving up on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Tyler Curtis reached on an error, allowing Neustrom to score from second.

Willmar increased their lead to 8-4 with two, two more runs in the top of the seventh. Smith pulled a double down the right field line to begin the inning before McAfee moved Smith to third with a groundout to the right side. Pardo drove in his second run of the evening with a sacrifice fly to center. Lambert then reached on an infield single before moving up to second on a wild pitch. Danny Mayer extended the Stingers’ lead with an RBI single down the left field line, bringing Lambert around from second.

Waterloo got two additional runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it an 8-6 games. Weiss recorded his last of four hits with a single to left before pinch-hitter Zac Sanders was hit on the hand. Lane Milligan trimmed the Willmar lead in half with a two-run triple down into the right field corner for the final runs of the game

Baker (1-3) was charged with the loss. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking two over 1 2/3 innings. Patrick Boyle, Andy Muehlberger and Jason Foster had scoreless appearances in relief for the Bucks.

Kiko Garcia (3-1) recorded the win for Willmar. The right-hander allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings, striking out a season-high eight while walking three. Max Green (3) secured the win with the three-inning save. Green allowed two runs on two hits and struck out seven over three innings. ​

The Bucks conclude their four-game homestand on Sunday in the series finale vs. Willmar. First pitch is at 3:35 p.m. with LHP Bryce Reichmann (2-0, 4.26) opposing Stingers’ RHP Tyler Hanson (4-0, 2.90).

The Bucks are having their eighth annual “Hit for the Cycle” Poker Bike Ride, sponsored by SCHEELS, BJ’s Bar & Grill, Catherine Doyle’s Pub, Curt’s, Pepper’s Grill & Sports Pub, The Pump Haus Pub & Grill, and The Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill, on Sunday morning.  

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Riverfront Stadium with the ride starting at 10:00 a.m. where bicyclists will begin the ride of approximately 20 miles with stops at BJ’s, Catherine Doyle’s, Curt’s Pepper’s, Pump Haus, and the Screaming Eagle. Riders will receive a playing card at each stop for their chance to win prizes for the best five-card poker hand out of the six cards they receive. The Bucks are introducing a “Wild Card” stop for this year’s ride. In addition, the Bucks will give away prizes during each inning of that afternoon’s Bucks game versus the Willmar Stingers for all Poker Ride participants. Riders have two options for registration: Option one costs $22 and riders will receive a T-Shirt, reserved seat ticket to that day’s Bucks game, sandwich item, bag of chips and fountain soda; Option two costs $32 and gets riders a T-Shirt, ticket to that day’s Bucks game and a pass to the Budweiser Party Deck.

Sunday’s game is also a Kids Eat Free Sunday and the 2016 Mascot Olympics. Kids 12 and under receive a free hot dog, soda and popcorn while mascots will compete in various events throughout the game with one being crowned the 2016 Mascot Olympic Champion.

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