Eau Claire Completes Sweep Of Bucks [Video]

Trailing by just three runs heading to the ninth, the Waterloo Bucks allowed the first 10 Eau Claire hitters to cross the plate in an eventual 15-4 loss at Riverfront Stadium Tuesday night (July 28, 2015).

The Bucks’ bullpen struggled to give up 11 runs over four innings behind the strong start of Tyler Day (2-5) (Stephen F. Austin), sending the team to its third straight loss as the Express (25-34/12-13) took the season-series, five games to three.

Waterloo’s two runs in both the fourth and ninth innings proved to not be enough as the pitching staff marked a new season-high for runs given up in a single game this season. Tyler Selesky (Florida Gulf Coast) led the offense with two single and three walks in a game that featured 15 Bucks’ runners being stranded on base.

Striking out three Express batters in the first, Day labored to get the final out in the top of the third. Eau Claire grabbed a 4-0 lead with two-RBI hits provided by Austin Listi (Dallas Baptist) and Teddy Cillis (Hofstra) with two outs in the frame.

The Bucks (29-31/11-13) sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth with a single runs scored by Daniel Perry (Iowa) and Matthew Stemper (Minnesota). Taylor Boyd (St. Joseph’s) tallied his only run-batted-in with a single to plate Perry with one out while an errant ground ball hit to second base hit by Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem St.) drove in Stemper for the 4-2 deficit into the fifth.

Day (2-5) ended his quality start following his fifth inning of action on the mound. The right-handed hurler’s only blemish was the four-run third in a start that featured five hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Nathan Spielvogel (Merrimack) took over for Waterloo to open the sixth and ended his relief outing with no outs in the top of the ninth after the first seven men he faced all scored. The reliever allowed one early run in his first inning of action and worked well until the ninth, surrendering eight runs on eight hits along with one walk and one strikeout.

Sam Mrstik (Johnson County CC) doubled to open the sixth off Spielvogel and came in to make it a 5-2 score when Brady Burzynski (UW-Stout) grounded him in to second base.

Nick Newman (St. Cloud St.) closed the top of the ninth for the Bucks as the first 10 Eau Claire Express scored in the inning. Newman allowed three runs, all unearned, on four hits in his lone inning of work.

Tim Millard (Dallas Baptist) and Taylor Lane (Florida) opened the bottom of the ninth by being hit by pitches and both scored in the frame to send the game to its final mark, 15-4. Perry walked in the inning’s first run while Stemper recorded an RBI with a 4-3 ground out in the ninth.

The Bucks don't have much time to dwell on the loss. They battle Rochester in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup series in a home-and-home doubleheader on Wednesday. The opening game begins at 12:05 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. The nightcap starts at 7:05 p.m. at Mayo Field in Rochester, Minn.

Game one of the twin bill features another Big Bucks Cash Giveaway presented by US Bank where $500 in cash will be given away, to fans 18 and older, at the main gates with $100 as the top cash prize.

Tickets are available at waterloobucks.com. You can also visit the Bucks Ticket Office at Riverfront Stadium or call (319)-232-5633. Bucks' games are broadcast live on waterloobucks.com.

Story By: Matt Gruemmer