Rochester, MN – Sam Harry turned in a multi-hit game that included a go-ahead two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to turn the tables on Waterloo as Rochester took game one of the series 4-3 on Thursday night. 

The starters were the stars of the show early in the contest. Rochester’s hurler went five strong as he allowed five walks and one run and struck out six hitters. Waterloo’s right-hander Brody Zielinski made his NWL debut and tossed five scoreless frames, striking out four. 

In the top of the fifth inning, the Bucks got on the board. Jake Miller worked a one out walk, then moved up to third on a hit-and-run with Zach Davis. One batter later, Davis stole second, and on the throw, Miller came in to score to put Waterloo ahead 1-0. 

In the top of the sixth, the Bucks added one more. George Baker reached on an error with two outs, then two walks loaded the bases. During the next at-bat, Baker scampered home on a wild pitch to grow the lead to 2-0.

In the home half of the sixth, Rochester got a run back. Andrew Grenert led off the inning with a single, then with two outs, Robert Orr ripped a double into the gap in left field to plate Grenert to cut into the lead, 2-1.  

In the top of the seventh, Waterloo extended the lead. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Baker who walked to force home a run to  make it a two  run lead once again, 3-1. 

In the last of the seventh, the Honkers flipped the game on its head. Sean Berta walked to begin the inning, then came around to score on a Jackson Norum double to shorten the lead to 3-2. Now with two outs after a hit by pitch, Sam Harry drilled a double to left to plate both runs to put Rochester ahead, 4-3, the score that would be the final. 

With the loss, the Bucks go to 6-5 on the season and 0-1 in the series with the Honkers. Game two is scheduled for Friday night at 6:35 PM from Riverfront Stadium. Rochester’s starter is TBD while Shae Buskohl is set to throw for Waterloo. 

https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=5767