The Waterloo Bucks remain in the first place in the North Division after downing Thunder Bay, 15-9, in front of a season-high 2,096 fans at Riverfront Stadium on "Star Wars" night (Saturday, June 18, 2016).

The Bucks drew a season-high 13 walks and every starter for Waterloo reached base at least once on the night.

Waterloo (13-5) went up 4-0 in the second inning with six consecutive batters to reach base in the frame. Zack Soria brought in the first run of the night with an RBI single to left before Daniel Perry increased the Bucks’ lead to four with a bases-clearing double.

Thunder Bay (1-17) cut the Waterloo lead to one with three runs in the third. Bobby Honeyman’s RBI bunt single got the Border Cats on the board before a passed ball scored Jesse Lee for the second run of the inning. Shane Shepard made it a 4-3 game with an RBI double to left.

Tyler Curtis’ two-out solo home run to left put the Bucks back in front by two. The home run for Curtis was his first of the season and one of the three hits he had on the night.

The Border Cats took their first lead of the night with four runs in the fifth. Andrew Fregia gave Thunder Bay a one-run lead with a towering three-run home run to left before Andy Weber’s RBI single increased the Border Cats’ lead to 7-5.

Waterloo (13-5) regained the lead with four runs in the fifth. Adam McGinnis’s RBI groundout trimmed the Thunder Bay lead to one before Curtis evened the game at 7-7 with an RBI single. Taylor Boyd gave the Bucks back the lead with a two-run single into right-center field.

Waterloo went up by five with a five-run sixth inning. An RBI fielder’s choice and six walks in the inning, four of which came with the bases loaded, extended the Bucks’ lead to 14-9. Zac Sanders brought in Waterloo’s final run of the night with a pinch-hit RBI single through the left side in the eighth.

Bryce Reichmann (1-0) earned the win in his season debut. The southpaw yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking two.

Joey Burris (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits, striking out one and walking two in 2/3 of an inning.

UP NEXT: The Bucks conclude their two-game homestand on Sunday (June 19), again hosting the Thunder Bay Border Cats. First pitch in the series finale is at 3:35 p.m.

Story By: Jared Schlensky - Waterloo Bucks​

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