Border Cats surrender lead three times, lose for 18th time in 19 games

WATERLOO, Iowa -- Three times the Thunder Bay Border Cats took the lead on Sunday afternoon.

But three times the first-place Waterloo Bucks (14-5) had the answer.

The host Bucks scored three times in the sixth and added four more in the seventh to down the Border Cats 9-8 in the finale of the two teams’ two-game set.

Adam McGinnis delivered the decisive blow for the Bucks in the seventh, launching a three-run home run off Cats reliever Ben Hoffman, who took over from starter Cameron Churchill to start the inning.

Zach Weatherford, Robert Neustrom and Lane Milligan drove in a pair of runs apiece for the victors.

Thunder Bay’s Andrew Fregia went deep for the second consecutive night, a three-run shot, while Shane Shepard had three hits and scored three times, also homering, part of the Border Cats 16-hit attack.

Hoffman, who gave up four hits in one inning of relief, was handed the loss.

Jonathan Buckley took over with two out in the seventh and earned the win for Waterloo.

The Cats (1-18) have Monday off and will host La Crosse at Tbaytel Park at Port Arthur Stadium on Tuesday.