Late rally dooms Thunder

WATERLOO, IA - The Blue Thunder clung to a 3-2 lead heading late in the game before the Waterloo Bucks came up with a pair runs to pull off a 4-3 come-from-behind win in a Northwoods League game Tuesday.

In the eighth inning and trailing by one the Bucks put runners on first and second with no outs when Adam Gaylord and Travis Hendrix hit RBI singles to take a 4-3 lead.

Brainerd scored a run in the first when Ben Orloff drew a one-out walk and Xavier Scruggs singled, moving Orloff to third. Patrick Rose then followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 lead.

After Waterloo scored runs in the fifth and sixth inning the Blue Thunder plated a pair of runs in the seventh. With two outs Matt LaGree walked, stole second and scored on a David Wilson double to right-center field. Wilson then later came around to score on a Waterloo error.

The loss overshadowed a solid pitching performance from Blue Thunder starter Dustin Renfrow. He gave up just one run on one hit with six strikeouts and four walks in 5 2/3 innings of work.

Brainerd's second half record drops to 7-9 and will enjoy an off day Wednesday. The Blue Thunder will be back in action when they host the Duluth Huskies for a 12:35 p.m. game at Mills Field Thursday and then travel to Duluth for a 7:35 p.m. game the same night.

Brainerd 100 000 200 - 3 6 2

Waterloo 000 011 02X - 4 5 3

Brainerd: Dustin Renfrow, Eric Anderson (6), Bryan Evans (8) and Matt LaGree. Waterloo: Robert Sorensen, Brandon Hennessey (7), Tom Close (9) and Scott Dunwoody. W: Hennessey (2-1). L: Evans (1-4). Sv: Close (2).

2B: Brd-Adam Symons, David Wilson; Wat-Chris Clark. SB: Brd-Andy Dirks, Ben Orloff 2, LaGree, Wilson 2; Wat-Mark Pappas, Dunwoody. RBI: Brd-Patrick Rose, Wilson; Wat-Adam Gaylord 2, Travis Hendrix. LOB: Brd 8, Wat 8. DP: Wat 3.

Time: 2:56. Attendance: 860. Overall: Brd 7-9, Wat 8-8. Next: Brd hosts Duluth at Mills Field 12:35 p.m. Thursday.