Bucks Increase Division Lead With First Shutout Win

The Waterloo Bucks increased their lead to two games in the Northwoods League' North Division by dismantling the Thunder Bay at Riverfront Stadium Thursday night (June 15, 2017).

The Bucks (13-4) beat their Canadian rivals, 8-0. The shutout was the first of the season for Waterloo, which won its sixth-straight game.

The Border Cats (6-11) batted as the home team, since they were originally scheduled to host the contest. The two-game series was moved to Waterloo because of on-going field renovations at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ont. The Border Cats have played all 17 of their games on the road or at neutral sites this season.

The start of Thursday's game was delayed 2 hours, 13 minutes by a pair of severe thunderstorms. Once play got underway, the Bucks wasted little time putting a run on the scoreboard. Waterloo took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, scoring on a Thunder Bay fielding error.

The Bucks doubled their lead in the fifth. They built a 2-0 advantage when Keaton Presley drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to leftfield.

Waterloo broken the game open with a six-run seventh inning. Grant Hawkins (single) and Jay Schuyler (double) each recorded two RBI in a frame that featured 10 Bucks batters. All six of Waterloo's scores were unearned.

Starting pitcher Hunter Spencer (3-1) continued to be effective on the mound for the Bucks, earning the win after recording four strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

UP NEXT: The Bucks conclude their two-game "road" series against Thunder Bay Friday night (June 16), against hosting the Border Cats at Riverfront Stadium. The Border Cats will again bat as the home team. First pitch is scheduled at 6:35 p.m. with fireworks following the game.