Rochester, MN – The Bucks emerge victorious 13-12 as the two teams combine for seven home runs, 25 runs, and 31 hits in an extra-innings thriller. Waterloo snapped a ten-game losing streak, and field manager Darrell Handelsman earned a franchise record 300 wins with Waterloo.

After falling behind three games in a row, Waterloo got out in front in the top of the second inning on Saturday night with a bases-loaded walk from Caleb Seibers and a hit by pitch by Larry Edwards to give the Bucks an early 2-0 edge.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Honkers got a run back. Ezekiel Mendoza ripped a double to left with two outs, then a hit by pitch put two on before Mike muscled an RBI single to left to bring Mendoza around to cut the lead to 2-1. 

In the bottom of the third, Rochester leveled the score with an Angel Santiago leadoff home run to knot things up, 2-2.

In the top of the fourth, the Bucks had a big answer. John Wubben and Zach Davis led off with singles before Jack Coluzzi tucked a double down the left field line to wave home Wubben to put Waterloo ahead 3-2. One batter later, Seibers lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 4-2. A couple of singles loaded the bases for Caleb Parker, who laced a two-run single to center to push the lead to 6-2. During a double steal in the following at-bat, a throwing error allowed another run to score to make it 7-3. 

In the home half of the fourth inning, the Honkers chiseled into the lead with an Ezekiel Mendoza solo home run to make it 7-3. 

In the top of the fifth, the Bucks had the answer. Seibers bunted for a hit, then Larry Edwards legged out an infield single. Next man up, Collin Brightwell ripped a single right back up the middle to plate Seibers to make it a five-run edge once again, 8-3.

In the top of the sixth, Waterloo tallied one more run with Bubby Dosztan-Campbell’s first home run of the year. The solo shot gave the Bucks a 9-3 cushion.

In the last of the sixth, the Honkers battled back. Ryan Drumm led off the frame with a solo home run to chip the lead to 9-4. Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases before an RBI groundout brought home a run to make it 9-5. Now with two down, Cooper Kruk punched a two-run single to right to chop the lead down to 9-7.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rochester cut the lead to one. Mendoza singled, then Ryan Drumm doubled to lead off the inning. With two away, Matt Maize pulled a single to left to bring Mendoza in to score to make it 9-8. 

In the top of the eighth, Waterloo added some insurance runs. Jake Slade was hit by a pitch before Dosztan-Campbell lasered a his second home run of the day to left to spring the lead to 11-8. 

In the top of the ninth, the Bucks tacked on one more. Edwards singled with two outs, then stole second and third to score easily on Caleb Parker’s RBI single to make it 12-8. 

In the bottom of the ninth, the Honkers leveled the score. Ryan Drumm led off the inning with a solo home run to set the Northwoods League record for home runs in a season with 82 to make the score 12-9. After a single and a walk, Santiago blasted his second homer of the day to tie the game at 12-12.

In the top of the tenth, John Wubben slapped a single to left to bring in the game-winning run as Jaren Lauver finished off the Honkers to earn his first win in a 13-12 victory over Rochester.

With the win, Waterloo goes to 24-32 on the season and 10-12 in the second half. The Bucks take on the Loggers next with game one of the series set for Sunday at 3:35 pm. Brooks Masters is the starter for the Bucks. The Loggers starter is TBD.