WATERLOO, IOWA- The Willmar Stingers (36-28) only collected four hits in a close 2-1 win over the Waterloo Bucks (35-29) to move ahead of the Bucks in the North Division overall standings and hold strong in the second half standings.
The Bucks got off to a nice start in the bottom of the second inning when Jake Viaene doubled to right center and was brought around on an RBI double the very next pitch by Nicola Mislinski putting the Bucks on the board first 1-0.
Jared Crescentini (4-5) rolled through his first four innings of work but the Stingers loaded up the bases in the top of the fifth and on a fielder's choice up the middle tied the game 1-1.
What happened next is something that does not happen often. Waterloo third baseman Zach Malis went to the mound along with second baseman Anthony Warneke to talk to Crescentini but it was ruled that time was not granted and while the meeting was occurring on the mound, Harrison Schnurbusch scored from third base uncontested.
That's all the run support that Willmar starting pitcher Corey Binger (3-0) needed as he pitched eight strong innings with four strikeouts.
Nick Mears (2) slammed the door shut by striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth.
The Bucks aim to turn it around tomorrow, August 5 at St. Cloud with a 6:05 first pitch against the Rox.
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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.