The Waterloo Bucks celebrated the nation's 241st birthday by tying a franchise record on Tuesday night (July 4, 2017).

The Bucks (24-12) ended the Northwoods League first half-season on a high note by defeating the La Crosse Loggers, 5-3, at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. Their 24th victory equalled the team mark for most first-half wins, matching the total won in 1998, 2013 and 2014. Waterloo finished the 36-game stretch in second-place in the North Division standings, one game behind the St. Cloud Rox.

Starting pitcher Kyle Leahy (4-0) got off to an uncharacteristically rocky start for the Bucks in the top of the first inning, surrendering back-to-back hits to open up the game. The Loggers (14-20) took a 1-0 lead when a runner scored on David Villar's infield grounder. Waterloo answered quickly, tying the game on Tyler Stover's double to left field in the bottom of the frame.

La Crosse built a 3-1 advantage in the third inning, scoring runs on back-to-back extra base hits by Luke Rasmussen and Cameron Cannon. Again, the Bucks bounced right back to tie the game in their half of the frame. Joe Genord plated both runs with a double to left centerfield gap.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Stover scored on John Cable's sacrifice fly. Drew Greenwood helped Waterloo tally an insurance run, when his up-the-middle single plated Jay Schuyler.

UP NEXT: The Bucks begin second-half play at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday (July 5), when they open a two-game series at Willmar. It's the first match-up of the season between the North Division rivals.

Story Contributor: Danny Frey - Waterloo Bucks

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