Stingers starter Yinger stymies Honkers bats on his way to a complete game
(Rochester, Minn.)– Honkers could not complete the doubleheader sweep of the Willmar Stingers Tuesday night at Mayo Field as the Stingers won game two, 4-1, in seven innings.
The Stingers maintained their North Division lead, finishing the day with a record of 15-5; the Honkers move to 12-10.
The Stingers scored their first run of the day in the second inning on a solo home run by catcher Max Ayoub (Nebraska Kearney), his third home run this season.
Rochester struggled to find hits against Stingers starter Kurt Yinger (Portland) but still managed to tie the game in the third inning. The lone Honkers run came in on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Alex Schultz (Nebraska Omaha). In the game, the Honkers only earned two hits off of Yinger, who completed his first start this season. Yinger pitched seven innings, allowed just one run on two hits, two walks and nine strikeouts in his first win of the season.
The big Stingers inning came in the top of the fifth when Willmar scored three runs on three hits and one error. Honkers starter Michael Freeman (Oklahoma State) allowed a leadoff infield single and injured himself attempting to cover first base.
Nick Highberger (Creighton) replaced Freeman and promptly hit the first batter he faced. He allowed two Stingers hits and three runs to cross the plate before being removed in a 4-1 game by L.J. Brewster (Hawaii). The insurance runs would be more than enough for the Stingers to hold on to the win Tuesday night and end the Honkers’ brief three game win streak.
They’ll meet the Stingers again at Mayo Field on Sunday for another two-game series with Willmar.
Tomorrow, the Honkers will welcome the Thunder Bay Border Cats for their first series in Rochester. Wednesday’s game is set for a 7:05 p.m. with Will Bamesberger (Creighton) prepped to make his first start this season. Tomorrow’s game will also play host to the annual Mascot Olympics at Mayo Field. Ticket information can be found at 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.
