The Waterloo Bucks’ (15-7) lineup went cold after the fourth in an 11-3 loss to the Eau Claire Express (7-15) on Tuesday evening. Waterloo led 3-0 after three, but the Express plated four runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before they blew the game open with a six-run ninth. Eau Claire’s bullpen recorded 16 straight outs at one point and did not allow a baserunner to reach second after the third inning.

Garrett McGowan (1-for-4, R, ROE) laced a one-out single in the first and advanced to second two batters later on a Max Jung-Goldberg (1-for-4, R) single. Josh Kasevich (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Reuben Church (1-for-3, BB, RBI) followed with back-to-back RBI singles shot back up the middle, giving the Bucks a 2-0 lead.

After McGowan reached on an error to open the second, Jalen Smith (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) blasted a double to right-center. McGowan was thrown out at home trying to score from first on the play, but two batters later Kasevich rifled another RBI single into right, plating Smith.

The Bucks reached base just twice on the Express bullpen on a hit-by-pitch and a walk.

Waterloo travels to La Crosse on Wednesday for a road split doubleheader against the Loggers at 12:05 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. CST.