Honkers pitchers strikeout 14 batters to earn first win of the season

(Rochester, Minn.)– The day after the Honkers lost on their opening night, the Honkers spoil the Bucks’ home opener by striking out 14 Bucks batters en route to a 7-5 win in Waterloo.

The Honkers starting pitcher, Brandon Stennis (Doane College), pitched 5+ innings only allowing two hits but was a little wild, walking three Bucks and giving up 5 runs (4 earned).

But, for the second night in a row, the Honkers hit very well, collecting 10 hits on the evening.  Last night, each member of the Honkers in the starting lineup earned a hit. Tonight, eight out of the nine Honkers in the lineup reached base safely.  Blaise Lezynski (Notre Dame) drove in two runs for the Honkers, the first to tie the game in the top of the 3^rd inning, and the second on a RBI groundout to the Bucks second baseman, Jake Riffice (Iowa).  The Honkers scored runs in six consecutive innings – the 3^rd through the 8^th.

The game’s real story was the work of Stennis, Ryan Diers (St. Cloud State) and Carl Jameson (Missouri Baptist) on the mound for the Honkers. While Stennis was wild, he was effective when he avoided the base on balls, striking out six batters in his 5+ innings. Diers came on in relief in the 6^th inning after Stennis walked the inning’s first two batters. He slowed the Bucks in the 6^th but they managed to get one run across the plate after a safety squeeze was executed by Riffice to tie the game. When it was Diers’ turn to walk the 7^th inning’s first two batters, Jameson came into the game and slammed the door shut. He struck out two batters in each of his innings of work – the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th – including the final two of the ballgame with the tying run on second base. Jameson’s fantastic work in the game gave him a well-earned save. In total, the Honkers struck out 14 batters to earn their first win of the young season and tie the season series with the Bucks in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup.

Tomorrow, the Honkers will travel to Eau Claire to meet the Express for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Then, on Friday, the Honkers will return home to play the Duluth Huskies, their last home game before a six-game road trip that will take them to Duluth, Thunder Bay and Mankato. Friday’s game is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start time, followed by fireworks. For ticket information, visit rochesterhonkers.com.

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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 21st 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com.