Waterloo, IA – The Bucks scored their second-most runs in a ballgame this season, behind nine runs in the third inning helped out by Mitchell Iliff and Colin Coonradt’s three RBIs, along with a base hit from seven of the nine hitters in the lineup, as Waterloo takes game one, 13-4.

Minnesota jumped ahead at the top of the first Saturday night. Owen Bond walked to lead off the inning, then scored on a two-out RBI single from Landon Jasper to put the Mud Puppies ahead 1-0. 

In the bottom of the first inning, Waterloo responded. Two walks led off the frame, then Mitchell Iliff roped a single to center to plate a run to even the score at 1-1. 

In the bottom of the third, the Bucks’ offense went off. Two singles got the party started and set up Iliff, who laced a single to left to bring in the run and give Waterloo a 2-1 lead they would not lose. After a sac fly that made it 3-1, Mycah Jordan ripped a double down the left field line to bring in Illiff to grow the lead to 4-1. One batter later, Jordan scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1, then a walk and a single loaded the bases. After a bases-loaded walk forced in a run to make it 6-1, Colin Coonradt slapped a double to left that cleared the bases and broke the game open, 9-1. Finally, Coonradt came in on an RBI groundout that extended the lead to 10-1. 

In the top of the fourth, the Mud Puppies fought back. A walk and a single brought up Jun Moeller who rocketed an RBI double to left that scored both runs to make it 10-3. One batter later, Bond chopped a two-bagger down the line in right to bring Moeller home to chip away at the lead, 10-4. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Waterloo put the game away. Caleb Seibers singled ahead of Collin Brightwell who pushed a triple to left to plate Seibers from first to make it 11-4. After a hit by pitch, Zach Davis went opposite field and dropped a triple of his own into right to score both runs and put the game out of reach, 13-4. 

With the win, the Bucks go to 8-9 on the season and take the opener against the Mud Puppies. Game two is slated for Sunday afternoon at 3:35 pm. Both starters are TBD.