WATERLOO, IOWA- The La Crosse Loggers (8-15) took advantage of Waterloo Bucks (16-6) miscues and runners left on base for a 5-3 win as the Bucks drop back-to-back contests.
David Villar set the tone with a two-run homer to left center in the top of the first inning off of the Bucks starting pitcher Hunter Spencer (3-2).
The Bucks loaded up the bases in the bottom of the third as Jay Schuyler walked in a run and Zach Malis was hit by a pitch to all of a sudden tie the game up 2-2.
Waterloo grabbed its first lead of the night on a tapper back up the middle in the bottom of the fourth inning as the pitcher Chris Boettcher tossed the ball into center field scoring Josh Elvir to make it 3-2 Bucks.
Kennie Taylor used his speed to beat out a double play ball and help the Loggers in the top of the sixth as it allowed the game tying run to cross home plate.
With runners at the corners in the top of the seventh, Cameron Cannon dribbled a ball down the first base line but it hooked fair and was a tough play to make as everybody was safe including the go ahead run as La Crosse moved back in front 4-3.
The Bucks had a chance to tie the game in the bottom half of the seventh with two outs on a Joe Genord base hit to right field but Tyler Stover was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.
Cody Ebert (2-2) threw two and third scoreless innings of relief and the Loggers added some insurance with a looping RBI single down the left field line by Ryan Mantle. Joe Rosenstein (1) recorded the final two outs to close the door as the Bucks fell 5-3 to the Loggers on Wednesday night, June 21.
Waterloo finishes up the five-game home stand tomorrow night, June 22 at 6:35 p.m. in the series finale against the La Crosse Loggers.
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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.