Waterloo begins a two-game road trip on Tuesday in Minnesota vs. St. Cloud
Game 1 Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317138
Game 2 Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317148
By: Jared Shlensky
WATERLOO, Iowa – Waterloo (9-16, 31-29) was swept by the La Crosse Logger (14-9, 31-28) for the second time this season in a day-night doubleheader as the Bucks were shutout 11-0 in game one before falling in game two, 9-3. The Bucks have now dropped three in a row after getting swept by the Loggers.
La Crosse jumped in front in game one of today’s day-night doubleheader with a run in the first. All-Star Mason McCoy recorded the first hit with a single to left before Griffin Conine doubled to left-center, giving the Loggers two runners in scoring position. Cullen Large brought in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Loggers increased their lead to 2-0 with a two-out run in the second. Justin Wylie doubled down into the left field corner before Gavin Johns scored Wylie with an RBI single to right-center.
La Crosse doubled their lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the third. Conine drew a leadoff walk before Large recorded his second RBI with an RBI double down the right field line. Grant Fennell then reached on an infield single, giving the Loggers runners on the corners. Lars Nootbaar brought in the final run of the inning after grounding into a double play.
The Loggers put up a seven-spot in the fifth to go in front of the Bucks, 11-0. Nootbar delivered the first run of the inning with an RBI single before Lorenzo Hampton Jr. made it 6-0 with an RBI single to left. Wylie increased the La Crosse lead to seven with a bases-loaded walk before a sacrifice fly from Johns put La Crosse up by eight. McCoy brought in the final runs of the evening with a three-run home to left.
Jonathan Buckley (1-2) was charged with the loss in his second start of the season. The right-hander allowed a season-high 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits, striking out three and walking four.
Tim Mulvey tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Bucks. The southpaw allowed one hit and issued three walks while striking four.
Mark Nowaczewski (4-3) tossed a season-high 8 1/3 shutout innings in the win and retired 19 of the first 21 hitters he faced, yielding just one hit and three walks while striking out five.
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La Crosse scored first in game two with two runs in the top of the third. Johns singled to center to start the inning before Luke Farley reached on a Waterloo fielding error, giving the Loggers runners on first and second. McCoy then loaded the bases with a bunt single up the third base line before Conine brought in Johns with an RBI groundout to short. Large made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Farley.
The Loggers went up 4-0 with two more runs in the fifth. McCoy reached second on a two-base fielding error before Conine moved him to third with a groundout to the right side. Large drove in another run with an RBI double to center before Fennell brought him with an RBI double of his own.
La Crosse tacked on three more runs in the sixth to take a 7-0 lead. Wylie singled to left to start the inning before steal second. Johns then reached on an infield single to give the Loggers runners on the corners. Farlay brought him Wylie for the first run of the inning after grounding into a double play. McCoy recorded his seventh of the doubleheader with a double to right-center. Conine followed McCoy with an RBI double down the right field line before Large delivered an RBI single to center, plating McCoy.
The Loggers added another two-out run in the top of the seventh to move in front by eight. Wylie recorded his third hit of game two with a double to left before Johns followed with an RBI single.
Waterloo scored their first run of the day-night doubleheader on Adam McGinnis’s solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the La Crosse lead to 8-1. The home run for McGinnis was his team-leading 10th of the year and gave him his team-best 49th RBI.
La Crosse scored their final run of the doubleheader with another two-out run in the top of the ninth. Plantier recorded his fourth hit of the game with a single to center before moving up to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Johns followed with an RBI double down the right field, bringing home Plantier.
The Bucks trimmed the deficit to 9-3 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Jake Hand started the inning with a single to left before Luke Barry brought him in with an RBI double off the right field fence. Travon Benton delivered the final run of the night with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Barry.
Brett Solano (5-5) suffered the loss in game two. The right-hander went five innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits while walking none and striking out three.
Dave Smith (3-0) earned the win for La Crosse in game two. Smith tossed six shutout innings, yielding just two hits and a walk while striking out four.
Waterloo begins a two-game road trip on Tuesday in Minnesota against St. Cloud. First pitch from Jon Faber Field in the series opener is at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Steven Baker (1-5, 3.20) opposing the Rox’s LHP Aaron Rozek (3-2, 3.66)
The Bucks return home on Thursday for the start of a two-game homestand vs. the Eau Claire Express. Thursday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. and is a Thirsty Thursday and College Night from Riverfront Stadium. College students receive a reserved seat ticket and two hot dogs for $7.00 while bottled water, 24 oz. fountain soda, 12 oz. draft beer and small popcorn just $2.00.
All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.
