ROCHESTER, Min. -The Waterloo Bucks dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the Rochester Honkers while wasting another strong pitching performance Friday night at Mayo Field.

Waterloo's Josh Rickards was outstanding on the mound, pitching six strong innings. Rickards surrendered only one run on four hits and struck out four.

Waterloo has scored just two runs over its past four games, losing 1-0, 1-0, 2-1 and 2-1.

The Bucks scored their run in the first inning when Jeff Whitlow and Michael Giller each singled, putting runners at first and second. Whitlow moved to third on a Mark Pappas groundout and then scored on Jeff Lanning's groundout to the shortstop.

Unfortunately for the Bucks, that would prove to be their only run of the night as Rochester's Dave Sever then buckled down and held the Bucks scoreless for the next six innings.

Rochester scored a run of their own in the bottom of the first and added the game-winning run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly. Reed Woytek pitched the final two innings for the Honkers to pick up the victory.

The Bucks (10-15) continue their series with the Honkers tonight at 7:05 p.m.

Waterloo 100 000 000 - 1 7 0

Rochester 100 000 01x - 2 8 0

Rickards, Schneider (7) and Dunwoody; Sever, Woytek (8) and Norris. WP - Woytek (4-2); LP - Schneider (2-1).