BASEBALL: Poynette plays well in loss to Waterloo

Poynette wasn't able to pick up its first victory of the season on Wednesday afternoon, but the Indians did turn in their best game of the season in a 3-2 non-conference loss to host Waterloo.

Poynette's Cody Koplin pitched his second straight complete game for the Indians. Koplin struck out four and walked three, while holding the Pirates to three runs on five hits.

"He's really doing a lot better. He's getting ahead in the count and relying on his defense a little more," said Poynette coach Davy Tomlinson of Koplin.

Waterloo's Kevin Novak drove in all three of his team's runs in the game. Novak hit a two-run single in the first inning and then scored the game-winning run on a solo home run in the fifth.

Novak's homer came after Poynette's Jeremy Moen tied the game in the top half of the inning with a two-run single. Moen also had Poynette's only other hit of the game, a leadoff single in the first inning.

"It was an excellent game. A very well-played game on both sides. That was by far our best defensive and pitching effort we've had all year," Tomlinson said.

"I told the guys after the game, 'I was happy. We're starting to play a little bit better. Hopefully things are turning around here.'"

WATERLOO 3, POYNETTE 2

Poynette .................... 000   020   0 — 2  2  0

Waterloo .................... 200   010   X — 3  5  0

Pitchers — Koplin (L); Berndt (W), Bark (7). SO leaders — Berndt 10, Koplin 4.

Leading hitters — Moen (P) 2x4, Novak (W) 2x3. 2B — Novak. HR — Novak.