WILLMAR, MN- Two early runs in the bottom of the third inning proved to be enough for the Willmar Stingers (26-23) in a narrow 2-1 victory over the Waterloo Bucks (28-21) on Thursday, July 20.

Jared Crescentini (4-3) matched up very evenly with Northwoods League All-Star Polo Portela (6-2) but the difference was an RBI single through the left side of the infield by Josh Bissionette and an RBI sacrifice-fly to left from Nolan Bumstead making it 2-0 Stingers after three innings.

Crescentini struck out seven batters over five and two thirds innings of work while only surrendering five hits but Portela pitched seven and a third innings also fanning seven hitters in a starting role.

The Bucks pushed across their onrly run of the game on a wild pitch by Calvin Coker (3) in the top of the eighth. Waterloo put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the ninth but could not bring them around in a late effort.

Waterloo stays in Willmar for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against the Stingers tomorrow, July 21 at Bill Taunton Stadium before returning to Riverfront Stadium for Pink-Out Night on July 22.

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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.