Waterloo, IA – The Waterloo Bucks defeated the Duluth Huskies comfortably by a score of 10-2 on Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium on Monday, May 26.

After an RBI double off the bat of outfielder Larry Edwards in the bottom of the third, the Bucks never looked back.

Waterloo went on to plate ten runs during the course of the game while knocking out 12 total hits. Catcher Jimmy Nugent led the way for the Bucks, going 4-5 with five total bases and four runs batted in. Edwards and right fielder Brody Leyboldt also produced multi-RBI games as the trio of Edwards, Leyboldt, and Nugent made the final difference with their eight runs driven in.

The Bucks’ pitching staff allowed only five hits for the entire contest while punching out four. Nathan Vargo stranded two runners when Waterloo made its first move to the bullpen with one out in the fifth inning. In 1.2 IP, Vargo allowed just one baserunner en route to earning the win.

Starter Eli Pillsbury led the team in innings pitched (4.1) and strikeouts (3), and relievers Tyler Glowacki and Kole Bradley tossed scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th innings successively.

Jake Bechtel hit the lone home run of the game for either side with a solo blast over the left field wall to tie the contest at one in the bottom of the second.

Marcus Heusohn, Larry Edwards, Brody Leyboldt and Caleb Parker all reached base three times with Edwards and Parker adding in multi-hit performances.

Game two of the four game series takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, May 27, at Riverfront Stadium at 6:35 pm (CDT).

BOXSCORE