Bucks Derail Express With Offensive Explosion, 14-2

The Waterloo Bucks produced their highest run output of the season while increasing their winning streak to three games Sunday afternoon (July 2, 2017).

The Bucks (23-11) dominated Eau Claire and derailed the Express, 14-2, at Riverfront Stadium. The victory at home allowed Waterloo to maintain a share of the lead in the North Division standings with two games remaining in the Northwoods League's first half-season.

Dalton Hurd started the offensive onslaught with a lead-off double in the first inning. He scored the game's first run on Jay Schuyler's sacrifice fly to the outfield. Next, Tyler Stover's single plated Schuyler, giving the Bucks an early 2-0 advantage.

Play was stopped for about 20 minutes in the bottom of the first after a scary defensive play involving Eau Claire right fielder Dominic Clementi. While running full speed in an effort to catch a fly ball in foul territory, Clementi appeared to lose his footing on the bullpen pitcher's mound and slid head first into the party deck's cement wall. He left the field on a stretcher and was transported to a local hospital for observation.

The Bucks increased their lead to 6-0 with a four-run third inning. Playing his first game, Northwoods League newcomer Brandon Gutzler drove in two runs with a single to left center field. Drew Greenwood followed with a two-run double to right field.

Stover hit his second home run of the season for the Bucks in the fourth inning, a two-run shot over the left center field wall. One inning later, Deion Thompson plated a pair of teammates with a single and Waterloo tallied two more runs on consecutive bases-loaded walks to make the score 12-1.

The Express (14-20) scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, while the Bucks got their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

UP NEXT: The Bucks close their first half-season schedule with a pair of games against the La Crosse Loggers. The two-game, home-and-home series begins at Copeland Park in La Crosse, Wis., at 7:05 p.m. Monday (July 3), then shifts to Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday (July 4).

Story Contributor: Danny Frey - Waterloo Bucks