Waterloo closes out the 2016 season on Sunday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. against the St. Cloud Rox.   

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317249

By: Jared Shlensky

WATERLOO, Iowa – A complete game victory from Brett Solano and a 10-run bottom of the first was more than enough for Waterloo on Saturday as the Bucks defeated the St. Rox, 14-2, in the series opener. Every Waterloo starter reached base at least once while Adam McGinnis set a new franchise record for most RBIs in a single-season with his 62nd RBI in the bottom of the eighth. Saturday’s lopsided win also guaranteed the Bucks a .500 season for the first time since 2014.

Waterloo (14-22, 36-35) scored a season-high 10 runs on 11 hits in the bottom of the first after bringing 14 to the plate. Lane Milligan, who finished a double short of the cycle, gave Waterloo its first runs of the game with a two-run triple down the right field. McGinnis then made it 3-0 with an RBI single to left. Three hitters later, Iowa native Kyle Crowl extended the Bucks’ lead to four with an RBI single to left before Alex Boxwell made it 7-0 with a bases-clearing double to right-center. Zach Weatherford increased the Waterloo lead to eight with an RBI single to left before Milligan belted a two-run home run to right for the final two runs of the inning.  

St. Cloud (23-12, 47-23) avoided the shutout with two runs in the top of eighth. Denis Karas reached on an error to start the inning, snapping Solano’s season-high streak of 15 straight batters retired. Webb Bobo doubled down the left field line, giving the Rox a pair of runners in scoring position. Brendan Illies brought home the Rox’ first run of the night with an RBI double to left before Zach Gottfredsen plated Bobo with an RBI single to center.

The Bucks extended their lead back to double-digits with four runs in the home half of the eighth, three of which came with two outs. With no outs and the bases-loaded, Milligan bounced into a double play, scoring Jake Hand from third for the first run of the frame. McGinnis made it a 10-run game again with an RBI double to center before Justin Beck increased the Bucks’ lead to 13-2 with an RBI single to right. Brody Weiss drove in the final run of the night with an RBI single to left, making it 14-2.

Solano (7-5) yielded two runs (one earned) on five hits in the complete game victory. Solano walked none and struck out three while retiring a season-high 15 in a row at one point.

St. Cloud’s Austin Caspersen (3-2) allowed 10 runs on 15 hits over seven innings in the loss. Both of Caspersen’s losses this season have now come to Waterloo as the right-hander suffered his first loss of the year back on May 31st in the season-opener. ​

The Bucks close outs the regular-season on Sunday against the St. Cloud. First pitch in the series finale vs. the Rox is at 3:35 p.m. All-Star RHP Derek Hendrixson (5-1, 1.15) makes his first start of the year for Waterloo while St. Cloud counters with RHP Carlo Graffeo (3-0, 2.50).

Sunday’s game is a Kids Eat Free Sunday, Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers – Law Enforcement Day, Fan Appreciation Day and a Kids Quarter Dash. Kids 12 and under receive a free hot dog, soda and popcorn while prizes will be given away throughout tomorrow’s game. The first 250 kids ages 10 and under receive a mini-beach bucket. At the end of the game, kids ages 10 and under will dash to pick up 1,000 quarters in the infield and put them in their bucket. The Bucks will also be wearing special Law Enforcement Jerseys featuring the logos of the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Falls Police Department and Waterloo Police Department. Proceeds from the jersey auction will go to the Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers.