Three runs in the first two innings and two additional runs in the bottom of the eighth pushed the Duluth Huskies past the Waterloo Bucks, 5-2, in the series opener on Saturday night (June 25, 2016).

Despite the loss, second-place Waterloo remains one game behind first-place St. Cloud in the Northwoods League's North Division race after the Rox had their 10-game winning streak snapped.

Saturday's game at Duluth's Wade Stadium started nearly 2 hours late because of rain. Once play started, the Huskies (12-13) tallied a pair of runs in the first inning and added another in the second for an early 3-0 lead.

The Bucks (16-8) got on the board with a run in the fourth inning, when Adam McGinnis drew a one-out walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Luke Stratman brought McGinnis home with a two-out RBI double off the top of the left-center wall.

Waterloo cut the Huskies' lead to 3-2 with a run in the sixth. Tyler Curtis started the inning with a single to center, McGinnis was hit in the back with a pitch, and Zack Soria loaded the bases with a base hit to center field. After Stratman popped out, Robert Neustrom scored Curtis with a sacrifice fly to left-center.

Duluth tacked on two additional runs in the ninth inning to secure the win.

Curtis extended his on-base streak to eight with a lead-off walk in the first while Soria extended his on-base streak to 10 with a single in the sixth. Alex Boxwell reached base twice and stole a season-high three bases in the loss.

Steven Baker (0-1) was charged with the loss for Waterloo. The right-hander struck out a season-high eight over 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk.

UP NEXT: The Bucks conclude their six-game road trip on Sunday afternoon (June 26) with the series finale against Duluth.

Story By: Jared Schlensky - Waterloo Bucks​

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