The Waterloo Bucks (18-15) were walked off 4-3 by the Thunder Bay Border Cats (13-19) on Saturday evening. Waterloo’s magic number stands at two headed into Sunday’s action.
Drew Irvine received a no-decision despite firing 7.0 masterful innings, allowing three runs, one earned on seven hits while striking out six. The Iowa righthander recorded 12 whiffs on 89 pitches and worked at a 73% strike rate.
Bennett Hostetler (3-5, 2 R, 2 2B) and Alonzo Rubalcaba (3-5, RBI) each posted three-hit days, while Blake Berry (2-4, 2 RBI) added a two-hit game.
The Bucks leapt out to a 3-0 lead after five, but Thunder Bay managed to draw the game even with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth and a game-tying solo shot a frame later. In the tenth, a controversial appeal doubled off Waterloo’s runner on second base, setting up a walk-off single for the Border Cats in the home half.
Waterloo and Thunder Bay continue their series with a 6:35 p.m. CST start on Sunday evening, with the game being heard live on the Bucks Radio Network powered by 1650 The Fan.