(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers scored 12 runs in the 4th inning en route to a 15-12 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats Friday night in Thunder Bay.
The Honkers were trailing 5-3 before Rochester scored 12 runs in the fourth inning, getting RBI hits from Kyle Kasser (Oregon), Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge), Drew Ellis (Louisville), Josh Davis (Pepperdine) and Jacob Thomas (UC Davis) in the one inning that blew the game open for the Honkers.
Trailing 1-0 in the second, Ellis launched a solo home run to tie the game, then Miles Lewis (North Dakota) hit a two-RBI single to give the Honkers a 3-1 lead.
The Border Cats took a 5-3 lead in the bottom half of the second, and following the Honkers’ 12-run inning, the Border Cats put two runs up in the bottom of the fourth on a Shane Shepard (North Carolina State) two-run home run, to cut the Honkers’ lead to 15-7.
Thunder Bay added another run in the fifth, and three runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 15-11. Joe Gellenbeck (Xavier) hit a solo home run in the eighth to make the score 15-12.
Five Honkers collected multiple RBI, including Kasser, Davis and Lewis who each had three RBI.
Max Gamboa (Pepperdine) got the start for the Honkers; he pitched three innings, allowed six runs, five of them earned, on six hits, walked three and struck out two. Jackson Douglas (1-4) (Iowa Western CC) got the win for the Honkers; he pitched two innings, allowed three runs on five hits and walked one. Alex FaGalde (UC Riverside) got his second save of the season by throwing a perfect ninth and struck out one.
The Border Cats used seven different pitchers, and Ben Hoffman (1-5) (Monmouth) got the loss; he pitched one inning, allowed five runs on one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Kasser went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Honkers’ offense, while Ellis went 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Czarske, Davis, Thomas and Lewis all collected multiple hits.
Shepard went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Andy Weber went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Honkers move to 6-8 in the second half and 13-36 overall, while the Border Cats fall to 5-9 in the second half and 11-37 overall.
The Honkers are in Willmar to take on the Stingers tomorrow night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The Honkers will take on the same Stingers’ team Sunday, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Rochester is back at Mayo Field Tuesday, when the La Crosse Loggers come to town on TV Tuesday, presented by Sam’s Club! First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00!
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Honkers as your favorite team!
