WATERLOO, Ia. – Hanging onto late leads is proving to be a problem in the early going for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
For a second straight night, the Northwoods League team scored multiple runs late to take over the lead, only to give it right back.
On Saturday night the Cats scored five in the ninth to take a 7-5 lead over the Waterloo Bucks, but gave back three in the bottom of the ninth and ended their season-opening six-game road trip with a 2-4 record, falling 8-7 in the finale.
A Brandon Fish sacrifice fly and RBI singles by Blake Burns and Brodie Kresser off reliever Shane Kearbey proved to be the difference for Waterloo in the decisive ninth.
Dalton Mullins was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI for the Border Cats, whose starter, Caleb Bunch, went six strong, allowing just two runs, one of them earned, on six hits and a walk. Thunder Bay native Will Droll gave up three runs, two of them earned, in one inning of relief, with the loss going to Kearbey.
Ethan Alexander, who took over from starter Seth White in the seventh, picked up the win, going the final three inning, giving u five runs on three hits and three walks.
The Cats are off on Sunday and Monday and will open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday night against the Duluth Huskies.
