Waterloo, IA – The Bucks get big contributions from everybody in their lineup Saturday night in the matchup with the Huskies. Anthony Massa mashed his first home run of the year, Caleb Parker came through with a massive two-run single in the eighth, and Cade Nolan earned his first career save in a 6-4 thriller in game one against Duluth.
After rain washed out the series finale against Fond Du Lac, Waterloo played from out in front after the bottom of the first inning on Saturday night. Caleb Parker reached on an error, then a walk and a single loaded the bases for Jake Slade, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to put the Bucks up 1-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Duluth got on the board. Owen Maslowski led off with a bounding base hit to left, then a walk set the table for Brayden Smith, who pulled a seeing-eye RBI single to left to plate Maslowski to make things even at one apiece.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bucks trampolined in front with a solo home run from Anthony Massa to take a 2-1 edge. Later in the inning, John Wubben was hit by a pitch, then a walk and a sacrifice bunt moved him up to third. During the next at-bat, Wubben scored on a balk to move the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the fifth, the Huskies got that run back. Jacob Koerselman worked a one-out walk in front of Andrew Ermis, who ripped a double to bring Koerselman in to score all the way from first to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Waterloo regained a two-run cushion. Massa walked to open the frame, then an error moved him up to third. One batter later, Tayvon Homolar lifted a sacrifice fly to right to bring Massa in to score to make it 4-2.
In the top of the seventh, Duluth dug into the lead. Chance Sorrby worked a one-out walk before Ermis roped another RBI double to left to slice the lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bucks got two insurance runs. Homolar tapped an infield single, then Caleb Seibers walked behind him. After Larry Edwards reached on a fielder’s choice he stole second to get into scoring position. One pitch later, Caleb Parker came through with a two-out single to center to bring home a pair of runs to make it 6-3.
In the top of the ninth, Cade Nolan came on for the save. A single and a walk put two on to open the inning, then Nolan got his first strikeout. One more walk loaded the bases before Ermis lined a single to center to move everybody up 90 feet and lower the lead to 6-4. Nolan got a swing and miss for strike three, then followed it up with one more to slam the door shut and punch out the side in the ninth for his first ever save.
With the win, the Bucks go to 26-36 overall and 12-16 in the second half. Game two of the series is set for Sunday afternoon at 3:35. Brooks Masters gets the nod for Waterloo. Duluth’s starter is TBD.