BISMARCK, N.D. – On Tuesday, the Bucks did something they haven’t done all season.

In a split doubleheader, the Bismarck Larks (6-13, 17-36) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, scoring off an error. They held that lead all the way to the fourth inning, as Lark starter Joshua Alpough was dealing a no-hitter through three in his first game back at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark since suffering an injury last month.

But the Waterloo Bucks (5-12, 14-37) were able to draw walk after walk, and Josh Patrick led off the inning with the fifth walk of the day against Alpough. The next batter, Karl Koerper, launched the first hit of the Bucks’ day well over the rightfield wall, 2-1. But for Alpough, it would be déjà vu all over again. Shaydon Kubo drew a walk before Liam Critchett crushed another baseball to the deepest part of the ballpark for the second homer of the inning to right-centerfield, 4-1.

The Larks would fight back through the rest of the ballgame but could never cross that four-spot put up by the Bucks as they scored just three runs the entire game through a combined effort from Bucks starter Harrison Durow, and relievers Austen Price and Blake Benson.

The Bucks kept scoring, however. TJ McCormick V collected an RBI with a single in the sixth, Shaydon Kubo had one of his own in the seventh with a bases-loaded walk, and Josh Patrick got two with a two-RBI double in the eighth.

Finally, in the ninth, Critchett added to his monster day adding another homer to right, on a ball that traveled 415 feet to bring the game to its eventual final score of 9-3.

One other moment of note in the first game was with one out to go in the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Willis made a pitching change due to pitch count, which saw position player Tynan Shahidi enter the ballgame. He threw just two pitches, forcing a lineout to short to end the ballgame.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Larks took control, wanting to at least earn a series split against the Bucks in the four-game series. Scoring twice in the third gave the Larks their largest lead of the series at 2-0.

The Bucks battled back in the fifth scoring two of their own as Tai Walton reached on an RBI fielder’s choice, and Liam Critchett drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2.

But almost immediately, the Larks reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the frame scoring on a pair of Bucks errors.

In the seventh, Waterloo would again tie the ballgame when Shahidi reached on an RBI fielder’s choice to tie the game at 3-3.

Yet again it was Bismarck reclaiming the lead as two scored in the bottom of the seventh off two hits, an error, and two walks allowed, 5-3.

With neither team scoring in the eighth, and Bismarck going to its closer in Edwin Colon, nephew of former major leaguer Bartolo Colon.

However, the Bucks got in business early with Critchett doubling to center, and Shahidi following it up with a single of his own to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

Alex Crouch, the next batter, was hit by a pitch to subsequently load up the bases. McCormick then hit a ground ball into a fielder’s choice that could have turned two, but an error on the Larks’ second baseman sent the ball out of play which sent every runner up another bag as on that play the Bucks tied the ballgame at fives.

After Justin Deal for the Bucks popped out, it put a tie ballgame in the top of the ninth with two outs and the go-ahead run in scoring position. Clayton Gray laced a ball into left field, McCormick got the green light and scored to give the Bucks their first lead of the game, 6-5.

All the Bucks then needed was three outs in the bottom of the ninth to secure their third straight win and clinch the series victory.

Jarrett Ramer took the mound in his second inning of work but walked the first batter in AJ Barraza. Fortunately for Waterloo, the next batter Jake Hjelle sent a grounder to third, on to second, and then on to first for a 5-4-3 double play.

It was then all up to pinch-hitter Kaiden Cardoso, as with two strikes he hit a grounder over to first, where Karl Koerper stepped on the bag himself securing the Bucks’ victory.

The wins mark the first time this season the Bucks have won in back-to-back days, and the first time the Bucks have won three-in-a-row. They now seek the four-game series sweep over the Larks on Wednesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.

You can listen to Wednesday’s game as well as all Bucks road games at waterloobucks.com.