WATERLOO, IOWA- The Mankato MoonDogs (14-14) pushed two runs across in the top of the ninth inning to top the Waterloo Bucks (19-9) 6-4 on Tuesday, June 27.

The game got off to a rocky start for the Bucks with two errors and a couple of close plays. Zac Wiley on a ground ball to third brought around Ethan Valdez who barely slide underneath the tag at home. A little later in the top of the first inning, Ryan Kreidler beat out a double play ball allowing Mankato's second run to score.

Waterloo responded and the cut the early deficit in half 2-1 on a Jay Schuyler RBI sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the third. The big offensive outburst by the Bucks came in the bottom of the fourth led by a game tying two-run double to right from Dalton Hurd. Schuyler followed it up with a go ahead RBI double to left field handing the Bucks a 4-3 lead after four innings.

The score remained that way until Valdez hit a game tying solo homer over the left field fence off of Waterloo reliever Tyler Booth. The MoonDog bullpen was dominant and had the Bucks lineup stifled for the rest of the game including Joseph Gerber (2-0), who set the Bucks down in order in the bottom of the eighth.

Brandon Downey (0-1) entered the game in the top of the ninth and on an intentional walk loaded up the bases with one out. Kreidler was the next batter and he was hit by a pitch bringing across the go-ahead run 5-4. Logan Busch pinch hit and rolled a sharp ground ball to first base where Joe Genord made a great play to get one out but the throw home was not in time on a great effort.

Naithen Dewsnap (5) closed the door in the bottom of the ninth as the Mankato's late rally led to a 6-4 victory over Waterloo.

Both teams have a quick turnaround as first pitch is set for 11:05 a.m. tomorrow, June 28 at Riverfront Stadium to wrap up the two game series.

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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.