Waterloo, IA – Rockford got in front early and didn’t look back in game one of the series Saturday night. Timely hitting, productive at-bats, and good pitching allowed the Rivets to keep Waterloo down and take the opener, 5-3.

The Rivets got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. Jack Sheri singled, and one batter later, Caleb Rhodes ripped a double off the wall in right-center to plate Sheri to trampoline Rockford ahead 1-0. 

In the top of the fourth, the Rivets’ lead grew. Bryce Nevils rocketed a double to left-center to lead off the frame, then a sacrifice fly brought Nevils in the score to make it 2-0. 

In the top of the fifth, Rockford doubled their lead. Two singles opened the inning, then Jackson Forbes laced an RBI single to right to make it 3-0. A sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout extended the lead to 4-0. 

In the home half of the fifth, the Bucks got on the board. A hit by pitch and a walk put two on for Caleb Parker, who pounded a double to right to plate both runs and cut the lead in half, 4-2. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Waterloo cut the lead to one with a Zach Davis bases-loaded walk to push in the run to make it 4-3. 

In the top of the ninth, the Rivets responded. Zan Von Shlegell walked to lead off and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to make it a two-run lead 5-3. Although Waterloo made noise in the ninth, Ben Buehring shut the door to earn the save and complete a 5-3 Rockford victory. 

With the loss, the Bucks go to 6-7 on the year and 2-1 against the Rivets in 2026. Game two of the series is set for Sunday afternoon at 3:35 pm. Both starters are TBD.

https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=5790