What started out with the fear of rain hitting Mayo Field for game two against the Honkers, quickly turned into the fear of hits coming from the Huskies bats. It started in the favor of the Honkers in the bottom of the first inning with a homerun off the bat of Zach Zubia (Texas). For the second straight night, the Northwoods homerun leader used the long ball to give Rochester the lead 1-0. From there both clubs were silent till the fourth inning when the Huskies used the motivation of a sweep to bring the score back to even, tying the game 2-2.
Pitching was solid as usual and starter Ryan Tapani (Creighton), went 6 innings only allowing two runs and striking out two. The Huskies bats awoke in the fourth inning, a leadoff double from Isaac Collins (Creighton) and back to back singles from Luke Roskam (Nebraska) and Rudy Karre (Kansas) gave the Huskies the start they needed. The runs continued in the fifth, adding four runs on four hits propelling the lead to 6-3.
Rochester responded with the homerun of Kenyon Yovan (Oregon) but was just not enough for the Huskies relentless offense. The Hometown team added three more runs in the eighth inning, catcher Rob Emery (San Francisco) had a two RBI single following back to back infield singles from bunts that came off the bats of Collins and Auggie Isaacson (Friends University). This heavy eight inning gave the Huskies a 9-3 lead late in the game.
Trevor Smisek (Ellsworth CC) came into the game for relief of Tapani and threw two scoreless innings only allowing one hit and striking out one. A Solo Homerun from designated hitter, Gabe Knowles (Minnesota) extended the lead to 10-3 gave the Huskies the insurance runs they needed heading into the bottom of the ninth.
With a substantial lead heading into the last inning of play in Rochester, Tre Brown (San Diego State) looked to finish the Honkers off and pick up the sweep. Brown did that and more striking out the side and sealing the deal for the Huskies.
Duluth heads back to Wade Stadium tomorrow night for a home game against the Eau Claire Express. First pitch is set for 6:35 and its Harley Davidson night at the Wade!
