WATERLOO, IOWA- The Waterloo Bucks (7-3) edge the Mankato MoonDogs (5-5) 2-1 on Deion Thompson's second go-ahead hit of the season, a single to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The MoonDogs struck first in the top of the second inning with a runner at third as Ethan Valdez dropped down a bunt down the third base line and beat it out for a hit. That would be the only noticeable blemish for Kyle Leahy in his 2017 debut for the Bucks on the mound. He tossed seven innings and struck out six batters in a starting role.
Waterloo responded with a little help from the Mankato defense as Jay Schuyler rolled a ground ball through the legs of Valdez into right field tying things up 1-1 after three innings. Collin Floyd also threw seven stellar innings for the MoonDogs, with the pitcher's dual, the game was knotted up after seven complete.
A critical moment in the game occurred with two runners in the top of the eighth with Matthew Perea (2-0) on the mound in relief. Jake Shepski blasted a ball high and deep to left field but Tyler Bordner slammed against the wall to rob him of a go ahead extra base hit.
The Bucks put two runners on in the bottom of the eighth for Thompson with a hit and run as the sharp ground ball almost hit Schuyler who jumped over it then scored from second to hand Waterloo a 2-1 advantage.
Brandon Downey (2) surrendered a leadoff walk but forced a double play the next at-bat and a fly out to left to close the door.
The Bucks head out on the road for four games, starting with a two game series at St. Cloud. The first pitch between the Bucks and Rox tomorrow is set for 7:05 p.m.
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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.