(Rochester, Minn.)– The Rochester Honkers slugged out a win against the Duluth Huskies on Friday night, defeating Duluth 9-5. It was another game where most Honkers found a way to reach base in one way or another; simply putting the ball in play from the batters box was effective. Behind starter Corey Copping, the Huskies committed 7 errors.
The myriad errors in the game helped the Honkers get 6 runs on the board in the first three innings.
The Honkers starter Nick Highberger (Creighton) pitched himself in and out of a few jams; he allowed 5 hits and 1 run in the game through his 3 innings on the mound. Logan Spitzack (St. Cloud State) was used to pitching scoreless frames this season but allowed his first runs of the season in the bottom of the 5th inning. The Honkers made sure, though, their pitchers were never looking up at the scoreboard in the game; their bats kept an edge on their opponents the entire game.
Casey Fletcher (Illinois) kept a scorching hot bat, collecting two more hits Friday evening and another RBI. Anthony Sequeira (Oral Roberts), however, could have used a game like today to jumpstart his own bat. Sequeira’s two hits – including a deep run-scoring double down the left field line – helped the Honkers keep their bats moving along in the top of the 3rd inning. Karl Sorenson (St. Cloud State) stood at the plate with runners on and he’d take advantage – again. Sorenson has collected 6 RBIs in his last three starts.
The lack of defense on both sides put pitchers in tough spots, repeatedly. The Honkers committed three errors themselves in the ballgame, but it was Duluth’s seven that helped propel the Honkers to a second consecutive win.
The Honkers will spend the night in Duluth to finish off their two-game series with the Huskies on Saturday. It’ll be the teams’ last meeting in Duluth this season. Rochester returns home to play the Mankato MoonDogs on Sunday set for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. 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, visitwww.rochesterhonkers.com.
