Waterloo concludes its two-game homestand vs. Willmar on Friday.

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317105

By: Jared Shlensky

WATERLOO, Iowa – Waterloo left a season-high 16 on-base as the Bucks fell to Willmar Stingers, 6-2, in the series opener. Thursday’s loss drops Waterloo into a tie with Willmar for fourth overall in the North Division.  

Willmar (12-7, 30-25) jumped in front 3-0 in the top of the first after having its first five hitters reach base to begin the game. Quincy McAfee drew a walk to begin the game before All-Star Danny Pardo recorded the first hit of the night with a bunt single up the third base line. Greg Lambert then filled the bases with a single to center before Justin Toerner put the Stingers up by two with a two-run single to left-center. Eddie Estrada scored Lambert from third after grounding into a double play with the bases loaded.

Waterloo (8-12, 30-25) countered quickly with a run in the bottom of the first, cutting the Stingers’ lead to 3-1. Zach Weatherford gave the Bucks their first hit of the game with a single to right before moving up to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Adam McGinnis brought in Weatherford with a two-out RBI single to center.

The Stingers went back up by three with a two-out run in the top of the sixth. Estrada drew a walk to start the inning before moving up to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Brandon Perez delivered an RBI single to center, bringing in Estrada from third.

The Bucks struck right back with a run in the bottom of the sixth, trimming the Willmar lead to 4-2. Luke Barry recorded his second of two hits on the night before Trevon Benton reached on an error, giving the Bucks runners on first and second. Two batters later, Lane Milligan came through with a two-out RBI single to center, bringing around Barry from second.

Willmar doubled their lead to four with two runs in the eighth. Luke Becker reached on an infield single to start the inning before stealing second. The second error of the game committed by Waterloo moved Becker to third and allowed Cole Cottam to reach second. Quincy McAfee increased the Stingers’ lead to 6-2 with a two-run single to center, plating both Becker and Cottam.

Steven Baker (1-5) suffered his fourth consecutive loss in 3 2/3 innings. Baker yielded three runs on six hits, walking three, hitting a batter and striking out two.

Patrick Boyle, Trevor Patterson and Kellen Rholl each recorded scoreless outings in relief. Boyle allowed a hit and a walk in 2/3 of an inning while Patterson retired the only batter he faced in a 1/3 of an inning. Rholl yielded a hit and an intentional walk in his Northwoods League debut.

Caleb Arbetier (1-0) earned the win in his Northwoods League debut, allowing one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four. Jake Rothwell (4) secured the win with the four-inning save. Rothwell yielded an unearned run on six hits, striking out five and walking on

Waterloo concludes its two-game homestand on Friday vs. Willmar. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Jared Crescentini (5-1, 3.45) opposing Willmar’s Pearson McMahan (0-3, 14.73).

Friday’s game is a Bark in the Ballpark, Bucky for President Night, Flat Screen Friday and a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza. Dogs and their owners may purchase tickets at the gate for $12.00 with $5.00 of each sale being donated to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo. Dogs and their owners can participate in the Parade Dogs around the warning track 30 minutes before the game. The first 500 fans to Friday’s game receive a free Bucky for President T-Shirt while fans age 18 and older can register to win one of three flat screen TV’s, courtesy of Kaplan University.

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