WATERLOO, Iowa – Willmar struck first with two runs in the opening inning against Waterloo and led for the next three frames, but a five-run fourth inning by the Bucks gave them a lead they would never relinquish en route to a 6-3 Stingers’ loss at Riverfront Stadium Friday night.

Waterloo (3-0) remained perfect for the season, while Willmar fell to 0-3 for the first time in franchise history. The meeting marked the first time the Stingers faced the Bucks in the team’s three-year existence.

In the first inning, Steven Brault (Regis) reached on a one-out walk to key the Stingers’ surge at the beginning of the game. Brault then stole second base – one of three steals on the night for the rising junior – and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast). After stealing second, Suchy scored later in the inning on a throwing error by the shortstop to give the Stingers the early 2-0 advantage.

The score remained 2-0 until the fourth when Waterloo plated five runs on only three hits with the help of four walks and a throwing error by the Stingers. The Bucks sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, which provided all of the offense Waterloo needed.

Trailing 6-2 entering the ninth inning, the Stingers tried to mount a two-out rally with three-straight hits by Greg Fettes (Kentucky), Logan Allen (OccidentalCollege) and Mitch Rowan (San Francisco). The single by Rowan gave the second-year Stinger his first RBI of 2012 and allowed the tying run to come to bat for Willmar. However, a groundout ended the game one hitter later.

Suchy finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk to increase his team-leading batting average to .600 (6-for-10). He also paces the club with two RBIs and two runs scored through three games.

The Stingers continue their three-game set in Waterloo with game two Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

The 2012 season is presented by Charter. For more information on your Willmar Stingers be sure to visit the West Central Tribune at www.wctrib.com.