Schuknecht’s big night helps Honkers to huge come back win Sunday
(Rochester, Minn.)– The Honkers triumphed over the Stingers after coming back from seven runs down to beat Willmar, 11-8.
For the second straight night, the Honkers overcame an enormous deficit to come back and grab the lead against the Stingers. Saturday, the Honkers were losing 7-1 and regained the lead but ultimately lost late to the Stingers. Tonight, the Honkers trailed 8-1 in the top of the fourth inning and kept chipping away at the deficit until the lead was theirs again.
Seth Holbert (Sam Houston State) started the game for the Honkers and attempted to replicate his performance in his last outing where he struck out 15 Stingers in seven scoreless. Unfortunately for Holbert and the Honkers, he was unable to repeat his phenomenal start Sunday. Holbert couldn’t make it out of the third inning and allowed his ERA to bloat after surrendering eight runs to the Stingers.
Five straight Stingers reached in the bottom of the third inning. After Holbert walked in the innings fourth run, Brandon Stennis (Doane College) came on to relieve Holbert. Stennis inherited the bases loaded and walked the first batter he faced. Stennis would then allow a two-run single to Troy Kuhn (Ohio State) and all of a sudden, the Honkers trailed by seven runs, 8-1.
But Stennis managed to keep the Stingers off the scoreboard after the third inning and the Honkers chipped the way at the seven-run deficit until they finally broke through in a big way.
To begin the fifth inning, Alex Schultz (Nebraska Omaha) led off with a single and scored immediately on an L.J. Brewster (Hawaii) double. Later in the inning, John Schuknecht (Cal Poly) drove in two runs on a double dumped into the left field corner and the Honkers were back within two runs of Willmar.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Connor Schaebauer (Minnesota) singled and Schultz came around to score with the aid of an error committed by shortstop Max Dutto (California). Schuknecht capped the comeback following Schaefbauer and homered over the left field fence as the Honkers pulled ahead. Schuknecht finished the night with three hits and four RBIs.
The Honkers bullpen only assured the Honkers would leave Willmar with the win Sunday night. In 6.2 innings of relief, Stennis, Max Weinstein (California, Irvine) and Jeff Campebll (North Dakota) combined to allow just three hits, no runs and one walk.
Rochester added two more runs to their lead in the eighth inning and it would be more than enough for Campbell to come in and record his second save of the season.
The Honkers return home tomorrow to battle the Waterloo Bucks in the next segment of the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup. Matt Kent is set to start tomorrow’s 1:05 p.m. ballgame, seeking his second win in as many starts. 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.
