The Waterloo Bucks could not find any timely hitting in a 3-1 loss to the Alexandria Blue Anchors at Knute Nelson Memorial Park Sunday evening (Aug. 2, 2015).

Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem State) and Tim Millard (Dallas Baptist) each posted multi-hit games while the offense abandoned six runners in scoring position in their ninth-straight setback, a series-sweep of Alexandria.

In his first start since July 16, Brian Drapeau (5-3) (Long Island) gave Waterloo a fighting chance over 5 1/3 innings, being charged with all three runs -- two earned -- on five hits, four walks and four strikeouts. Charlie Naso, Jr. (Illinois) allowed one of the starter’s runs to cross on a wild pitch in the sixth along with one hit as he closed the game on the mound for Waterloo over 2 2/3 innings.

Despite the loss, the Bucks (29-37/11-19) took the season-series with the Blue Anchors, 5-3.

Waterloo Bucks
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Alexandria (28-38/16-15) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Drew Fearing (North Dakota St.) sent a two-run single to right field. Matt Hopfner (Northwestern) reached on an error at shortstop to open the frame and scored along with Kyle Richardson (Notre Dame) on Fearing’s single for the two-run lead.

The Bucks escaped a critical jam in the bottom of the fifth when Jonah Bride (Neosho County CC) dove in front of a ground ball to first base and capped off a 3-6-1 inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Drapeau exited with runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth before Naso took over out of the bullpen. After collecting a lead-off single in the inning, Hopfner struck again for the Blue Anchors when he crossed to make it 3-0 on a wild pitch to the backstop.

Millard drove in the Hill in the top of the seventh as the Bucks’ only run on one of his three singles throughout the night. The conversion made it a 3-1 game into the last two innings, but the Bucks failed to muster a comeback as Tyler Hasper (Heartland CC) recorded his second save of the series after retiring the side in the ninth.

The Bucks return home Monday for a 7:05 p.m. battle with the Thunder Bay Border Cats. It will be the final Buck Monday home game where fans get regular hot dogs for just $1.50, plus 10 oz. draft beer, 12 oz. sodas, small popcorn, and ice cream sandwiches are just $1 each. Sponsored by K98.5.

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

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