The Lakeshore Chinooks took on the Rochester Honkers on Thursday night in second game on a two game set. Kapco Park had a hefty crowd on hand due to fan appreciation night and the fans showed great support throughout the season. The teams traded off runs throughout the game. The Chinooks took a two-run lead into the 9th inning but fell apart giving the Honkers a 5-4 victory.
The Chinooks struck first in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Aaron Machbitz (South Dakota State) flared a single to right field to lead-off the inning. After advancing to second base on a wild pitch, Andrew Stevenson (LSU) ripped an RBI single to right giving Lakeshore a 1-0 lead.
Rochester quickly came back in the top of the 4th inning. A lead-off single and stolen base put a Honker in scoring position for Tyler Baker who smacked an RBI single up the middle to knot the game 1-1.
The Honkers took their first lead of the night in the top of the 6th inning. A one-out single followed by a stolen base and error put a runner on third base for Baker yet again who hit an RBI groundout resulting in a 2-1 lead.
This lead did not last long as the Chinooks answered in the bottom of the 6th inning. With one out, Mike Hollenbeck (Illinois State) belted a sky-high triple to dead center field. Mike Papi (Virginia) followed, driving an RBI single over the second basemen to even the game 2-2.
Lakeshore regained the lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. The Chinooks loaded the bases on three walks for Sawyer Polen (Kent State) who launched a 2 RBI fly-out to deep center field. The speedy Jack Sundberg (UCONN) and Killian Strenn (Norfolk St.) tagged up leading to a 4-2 advantage for the Chinooks.
Rochester took the air out of the crowd in the top of the 9th inning. With a man on second, a two-run blast knotted the game once again at 4-4. The Honkers wanted more than a tie, they wanted the win. After reaching on error and advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt, Rochester took the win 5-4 on an RBI fly-out to left field.
Chinooks starter Joe Greenfield (Eastern Illinois) went seven big innings giving up two runs on six hits and striking out seven.
The Lakeshore Chinooks (18-7) take on the Wisconsin Woodchucks in their final two game set at Kapco Park for the regular season. On Friday, August 2nd first pitch will be scheduled for 7:05 PM. Fans can enjoy the last Leinenkugel’s Friday Fish Fry along with a great night at the ball park!
