The Waterloo Bucks left a season-high 16 runners on-base in a 6-2 setback to the Willmar Stingers at Riverfront Stadium Thursday night (July 28, 2016).

The loss drops Waterloo into a fourth-place tie with the Stingers in the Northwoods League's North Division overall standings. The victory kept Willmar within a half-game of first-place in the second half race. In terms of the playoffs, the Bucks will be part of the eight team field if they stay ahead of Willmar in the overall standings, provided the Stingers don't win the second-half crown.

Willmar (12-7, 30-25) jumped out to an early lead on the Bucks, plating three runs in the first inning. The Bucks countered quickly in their half of the frame. Zach Weatherford reached base on a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Adam McGinnis brought in Weatherford with a two-out RBI single to center.

Neither team scored again until the sixth inning, when each put one run on the board. Willmar scored with two outs in the top of the frame to go ahead 4-1, before the Bucks answered. Luke Barry singled and Travon Benton reached on an error. Two batters later, Lane Milligan drove in Barry with a two-out RBI single to center.

Willmar later ended the scoring, tallying a pair of runs in the eighth inning.

Waterloo starting pitcher Steven Baker (1-5) suffered his fourth consecutive loss, working just 3.2 innings. He yielded three runs on six hits, walking three, hitting a batter and striking out two.

UP NEXT: The Bucks conclude their two-game home stand on Friday (July 29), again hosting Willmar in the series finale against First pitch is scheduled at 7:05 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium.

Story Contributor: Jared Schlensky - Waterloo Bucks​

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