By Max Gun, Radio Broadcaster

Rochester, Minn.– The Battle Creek Bombers were swept by the Rochester Honkers Thursday night, losing 3-2.

The Bombers struck first in this game, scoring two runs in the second inning. Lin Li (National Taiwan Sports University) doubled to lead off the inning, and scored on a Brennon Lund (BYU) single to make the game 1-0 Bombers. After advancing to second base on an error, Lund scored on another error after a routine ground ball off the bat of Dre Gleason (Austin Peay) got passed Honkers shortstop Adam Walton (Illinois) making the score 2-0 Battle Creek.

The score stayed 2-0 until the fifth inning. Dempsey Grover (UC Santa Barbara) led off the inning with a walk, and Will Paschal (Georgia Gwinnett) singled to put runners at first and second. With one out, Ryan Summers (Louisville) blasted a 3-run home run over the left field wall to make it a 3-2 ballgame. Rochester scored all of their runs on one swing of the bat.

Alex Hermeling (Ohio State) started for the Bombers and pitched 6 innings, allowing just 3 hits. He struck out a season-high 11 hitters, but he took the loss for Battle Creek (2-3). Before the game he announced his verbal commitment to transfer to Ohio State University in the fall. Hermeling previously played for Lousiana-Monroe.

Alex Evans (Barton CC) started for Rochester and picked up the win (3-0) for the Honkers after tossing 6 innings of 2 run ball. Just one of the two runs were earned. The Bombers had their chances against Evans, but he induced three double plays to get him out of trouble.

The Bombers, now 0-2 in the second half and 13-24 on the season overall, now travel to Waterloo to close out the road trip. Min Hsia gets the start on Friday night for Battle Creek. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Central Time.

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd 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 120 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 (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com.

(Story photo courtesy of Battle Creek Photography and Design – Levi Green)