Waterloo, IA –  In game one of a four-game series against Thunder Bay, Waterloo uses a first inning home run from Mitchell Iliff and 5.1 gutsy innings from Nate Berzonski to propel the Bucks to a game one win over the Border Cats, 8-4.

After jumping out to an early lead Wednesday in Eau Claire, the Bucks offense stayed hot in game one of the series against Thunder Bay. In the bottom of the first, Larry Edwards singled in front of Mitchell Iliff who launched a two-run home run to right to catapult Waterloo to a 2-0 lead. Next up, Zach Davis singled, then stole second before Caleb Parker drove him in with an RBI single to make it 3-0. 

In the top of the fourth, the Border Cats scratched a run across. William Polanco led off with a single, then with one out, Stevie Waters doubled off the wall in left. One batter later, Polanco crossed home plate on an RBI groundout to chip the lead to 3-1.

In the top of the sixth, Thunder Bay brought it within one. Polanco again started the inning with a single, then came home to score on another Waters double to cut the lead to 3-2.

But that was all they got against Nate Berzonski. In his second start of the year, the Bucks starter was strong. He went a season-high 5.1 innings pitched with five strikeouts. 

In the home half of the sixth, Waterloo had an answer. Collin Brightwell reached on an error, then stole second. One batter later, Larry Edwards roped a single to left to bring in Brightwell to push the lead to 4-2. 

In the top of the seventh, Thunder Bay evened things up. With the bases loaded and two outs, Alex Kean muscled a two-run single to left to plate a pair of runs to level the score at 4-4. 

In the last of the seventh, Waterloo took the lead for good. Iliff walked with one out, then Dane Most was hit by a pitch, and Chase Porter singled to load the bases. One batter later, Parker earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice to put the Bucks on top  5-4. Now with two down, pinch-hitter MJ Sweeney crushed a two-run double off the wall in center to grow the lead to 7-4. 

Waterloo would tack on another run in the bottom of the eighth for Cade Nolan who closed out the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to finish off his second win of the year, 8-4.

With the win, the Bucks go to 16-21 overall and 2-1 in the second half of the season. Game two of the series takes place at 6:35 pm on Saturday, July 4th. Mason Kosowick is set to start Max Collins.

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