Waterloo, IA – The Waterloo Bucks defeated the Duluth Huskies for the second time in as many days to start the 2025 season with a 6-2 victory at Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday, May 27.

Waterloo did its most damage in the bottom of the sixth by putting up the largest frame of the day for either side with three runs. With the score tied at two, right fielder Sam Finn stung a double into the gap in left-center field to plate center fielder Larry Edwards and first baseman Kinnick Pusteoska for his second hit of the contest. From that point forward, the Bucks never relinquished the lead.

Finn’s two-bagger came right after the tall lefty bat Pusteoska took a 3-1 pitch in on his hands and blooped it into left field for a double of his own, tying the contest for the first time since the Huskies took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.

This sequence followed a dramatic end to the top of the sixth inning. Winning pitcher Brandon Rice escaped a bases-loaded jam with two outs when Pusteoska made a diving catch to keep the score at 2-1. The play completely shifted the momentum of the game in favor of the Bucks and gave Rice 2.1 IP on the night.

Southpaw starter Parker Sweeney kept the Bucks in the game until Rice took over by going 4.2 IP and striking out six. Lefty reliever Brody Leyboldt shut the door by recording the last six outs with a pair of punchouts.

Third baseman Jimmy Nugent also contributed to Waterloo’s offensive efforts with an RBI double and a fielder’s choice that plated another run. Designated hitter Marcus Heusohn and second baseman Caleb Parker also picked up knocks in the game to bring the Bucks’ hit total to six for the day.

The Bucks take on the Huskies again tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28, at 6:35 pm (CDT) for the third game in the series out of four.

BOXSCORE