The Waterloo Bucks (41-23, 18-12) made a furious comeback from an 8-0 deficit to dispatch the Eau Claire Express (26-39, 14-19) 14-11 on Wednesday evening, opening their final homestand by lowering their magic number to one. Sam Biller (3-for-6, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Liam Critchett (1-for-3, 2 BB, HBP, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI) each homered in the win while Jalen Smith (2-for-4, 2 BB, R), Max Jung-Goldberg (2-for-4, BB, RBI, SB), Luke Fennelly (2-for-4, BB, 2 R, RBI) and Paul Steffensen (2-for-5, R, 2B, 4 RBI) provided Waterloo with multi-hit evenings. Trailing 8-0 after the top of the first, the Bucks plated one in the first, two in the second, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, five in the sixth and one each in the seventh and eighth to earn the win.

Eli Emerson worked a scoreless second by striking out one, then Seth Crandall (3.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, K) covered the next 3.0 innings and allowed just one run. Ben Beutel picked up the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless frames, scattering two hits while walking none and punching out three batters.

Down 11-7 after Eau Claire added two in the sixth, Critchett was hit by a pitch then Smith drew a walk before Jung-Goldberg advanced them both with a groundout. Mike Campagna (1-for-4, BB, R, 2 RBI) and Fennelly smoked back-to-back RBI singles, trimming the deficit to two. After a flyout, Tristan Gomes (0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R) drew a walk to fill the bases for Steffensen. Waterloo’s right fielder smashed a three-run go-ahead double to left-center, giving the Bucks their first lead of the game at 12-11.

Zach Button slammed the door with a one-two-three ninth, striking out two.

The Bucks will go for the sweep and the Great Plains-East Second Half Championship on Thursday evening at 6:35 p.m. CST in Waterloo.