Michael Freeman was dominant in Tuesday’s start to help the Honkers to a big win in St. Cloud

(Rochester, Minn.)– The Honkers and Rox were locked in a pitchers duel Tuesday night in St. Cloud. But some strong pitching from Rochester was enough to help them cling to the win, 2-0, over the Rox.

The Rox’s Nick Jensen-Clagg (Kent State) was tough to hit for the Honkers Tuesday evening. The Honkers struck out 11 times in seven innings against the tricky righty. But, the Honkers managed to grab a lone run off of Jensen-Clagg in the fifth inning after a two-out single from Reid Roper (Illinois) scored Ryan Boldt (Nebraska) from second base, giving the Honkers a 1-0 lead.

The Honkers added to their lead with reliever Tyler Peitzmeier (California State, Fullerton) on the hill in the eighth. Roper led the inning off with a single and eventually came around to score on a base hit from Blaise Lezynski (Notre Dame). The insurance run made it 2-0 and the Honkers took the two-run lead to the bottom of the eighth, handing the ball to reliever Brandon Stennis (Doane College), ending Freeman’s stellar start. Freeman finished the night pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, three walks with three strikeouts.

Stennis pitched around a couple of walks in the eighth inning to preserve the Honkers’ lead and got two more in the ninth before handing the reigns to Nick Highberger (Creighton) to record the game’s final out with a runner on first base. Highberger did so, striking out the only batter he faced looking to help the Honkers earn their 13th win of the half and win the game 2-0.

The Honkers play two tomorrow with Waterloo – one away then one at home. They’ll head to Waterloo tomorrow afternoon before hosting the Bucks at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night. Will Bamesberger (Creighton) will start the Honkers’ home game, looking for his fifth win. For ticket information for tomorrow night’s Princess & Prince Night, 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.