The Waterloo Bucks squared off with the Willmar Stingers for the finale of a two-game set. The Bucks started strong with a two run single from Charley Hesse to put Waterloo in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first.

Willmar put up three runs of their own in the top of the second and added one in the fourth thanks to an RBI groundout from Tyler Wilber. Waterloo tried to rally back in the fifth. A leadoff triple from Xane Washington was followed by an RBI groundout to second by Levi Usher. That run closed the gap to 4-3, Willmar.

The Stingers added three more runs with one in the sixth and one the seventh. Waterloo gave one last ditch effort and tallied a pair in the seventh and led off the eighth with a solo homerun from Patrick Ferguson. Ferguson’s homer was the first of the season for the Bucks.

With the Bucks trailing 7-6, Xane Washington was on second as the tying run with two outs for Oraj Anu. Anu flied out to left to end the game and split the series with Willmar.

Stingers reliever Jonathan Brand took the win and Wyatt Thompson earned the save. Bucks starter Tate Kuehner took the loss. Tyler Wilber drove in three to lead the way for Willmar. Patrick Ferguson went 1-for-3 including a solo shot in the eighth.

The Bucks will be back in action tomorrow night for 4th of July baseball against the Mankato MoonDogs at Cost Cutters Field at Riverfront Stadium.