DULUTH, Minn. – Riding high off a victory over the subdivision leading Eau Claire Express, the Waterloo Bucks (2-7) started off with a three-run opening inning over the Duluth Huskies (6-3). However, that’s all that it would be able to get.

In their debut on ESPN+, the Bucks got a hot start. Ryan Guardino opened the ballgame with a two-run home run to left field that immediately sparked the Bucks offense to a Will Cheatham RBI-single later in the same inning to hop out to a 3-0 lead through just a half-inning of play.

The Huskies would not go down quietly as they scored a run each in the first, second, and third innings. The runs came on a throwing error, RBI triple, and RBI double respectively. Overall, the Huskies would secure extra bases on three of their nine base hits on the night.

After tying the game through three innings, Duluth would take the lead with a two-run fifth inning before adding extra insurance in the bottom of the eighth to bring the run total to where it would be at the end of the night with the Huskies on top, 7-3.

The Bucks after the first inning could not solve the Huskies’ starter, Pat Miner, after he settled in. He would pitch six complete innings allowing eight of the Bucks’ 10 hits on the night. Nolan Lebamoff and Jake Christianson would pitch the final three innings allowing two hits combined.

However, the top of the ninth added a bit of drama, as the bases went loaded with Will Cheatham, Cameron Cromer, and Alec Patino aboard with Ryan Guardino, the home run hitter of the first inning, coming up to the plate with the Bucks down to their final out. But unfortunately for Waterloo, Guardino would ground out to the Huskies’ first baseman to end the game, leaving the bases loaded.

A bright spot for the Bucks was first baseman, Will Cheatham. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base on the night. Additionally, Guardino added two more hits to his line including his two-run home run in the first inning as he’s settling into his second season with the Bucks.

The Bucks look for revenge Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. from Wade Stadium in Duluth. You can listen to that game as well as all Waterloo Bucks road games on waterloobucks.com with the Famous Dave’s Pregame Show beginning 20 minutes before first pitch at 6:15.