Dylan Phillips (2-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB) accounted for all four runs in a thrilling 4-3 Waterloo Bucks (6-4) victory over the Duluth Huskies (6-4) late Thursday evening. The win moves Waterloo back into a tie for first place in the Great Plains-East with the Huskies.

Waterloo’s Jake Gitter and Bryce Wooldridge drew back-to-back walks to open the second inning, then moved up a base on a wild pitch. Phillips cranked a sharp double to right, plating both Bucks and opening a 2-0 lead. The Kansas State product promptly stole third, then scored on a single cracked by his collegiate teammate Caleb LittleJim.

Up 3-0 in the fourth, Phillips led off the home half with a double off the warning track in right and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Following a flyout, Phillips made a keen read on a dirt ball to score on a wild pitch.

Bucks starter Tyler Miller gutted through 4.0 innings of scoreless baseball, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out four. Jimmy Smiley tossed 3.0 innings of two-run ball to earn the win, striking out four. Alec Holcomb earned the save. Locking down the final 2.0 frames, Holcomb punched out four and worked around three hits. The righthander flashed his impressive stuff by recording 11 whiffs on 41 pitches.

Waterloo begins a two-game road series with Eau Claire tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. All the action can be heard on the Bucks Radio Network powered by 1650 the Fan.

Box Score