Waterloo, IA – The Kingfish scored six runs in the last three innings behind Ezra Essex’s 3-4, three RBI day and Hunter Snyder spanking a two-run home run and a double to sail Kenosha to a series split with Waterloo, 8-7

After falling behind early in game one, Kenosha jumped ahead early in the top of the first inning in game two. A two-out walk set up Hunter Snyder, who launched a home run to right field to trampoline the Kingfish to a 2-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bucks kicked the offense into gear. Jake Slade roped a one-out single to left, then stole second. One batter later, George Baker grounded a single right back up the middle to bring Slade in to score to make it 2-1. After a couple of walks loaded the bases, Baker crossed home plate to even the tally at 2-2. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Waterloo was gifted three runs on two wild pitches and a throwing error that allowed the Bucks to take a 5-2 advantage. 

In the top of the seventh, Kenosha got two of the runs back. Gus Gregory singled, then Cole Ide walked. Next up, Ezra Essex roped a single to right to plate Gregory to make it 5-3. After a walk loaded the bases, Brian Gould was hit by a pitch to force in a run to cut the lead to 5-4. 

In the home half of the seventh, Waterloo responded. Collin Brightwell reached on an error, then Larry Edwards walked, and both runners moved up on a double steal. With two outs, Caleb Parker lined a single past shortstop to bring home the pair to lift the lead to 7-4. 

In the top of the eighth, the Kingfish fought back. Three walks loaded the bases before Essex laced a single to left to bring two runs in to slash the lead back down to one, 7-6.

In the top of the ninth, Kenosha snatched the lead away. With two outs in the frame, Noah Alvarez walked, then moved up on a wild pitch. At the plate, Snyder walloped a double to left to bring in Alvarez to tie the game at 7-7. One pitch later, Matthew Cormier drilled his own double to score Snyder to flip the game on its head, 8-7, and split the series as the Bucks went down in order in the last of the ninth. 

With the loss, Waterloo goes to 23-23 on the season and 9-3 in the second half. Up next, the Bucks board the bus for a four-game road trip starting out in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Game one against the Loggers is slated for 6:35 pm at Copeland park. Nate Berzonski takes the bump for Waterloo. La Crosse’s starter is TBD.

https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=6205