Spencer Greer tosses a seven-inning complete game against Thunder Bay at home to snap Honkers’ losing skid

(Rochester, Minn.)– Looking to remedy a three-game losing streak, the Honkers welcomed the Thunder Bay Border Cats to Mayo Field for the first of two seven-inning games on Saturday. Behind a strong start from Spencer Greer (Western Nevada Community College), the Honkers took the day’s first game, 3-1.

In the top of the first, Nick Studer (Doane College) drove in the first run of the game to get the Border Cats on the scoreboard. Honkers starter Greer got into a little more trouble in the inning, loading the bases, but pitched out of it to keep the score at 1-0.

Ryne Roper (Illinois) and the Honkers tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Roper smacked an RBI single to right field, scoring Jordan Smith (Minnesota) and knotting the game at one.

In the bottom of the fourth, Reid Roper (Illinois) singled to right field with one out in the inning. After a perfectly executed hit and run from Roper with Smith at the plate, Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) flied a ball deep enough to score Roper from third base, giving the Honkers the lead, 2-1.

The Honkers added a third run in the fifth on another sacrifice fly, this time from Alex Schultz (Nebraska Omaha), giving Greer a two-run lead to pitch with – it would be more than enough.

Greer finished the game he started, pitching all seven innings allowing just one run on four hits and three walks, striking out three Border Cats, too. Pitching around a lead-off single, Greer set down the following three batters in order, locking down the Honkers 3-1 win, ending their three-game losing streak.

The Honkers and Border Cats are back at it soon, getting prepared to complete the day’s doubleheader. Honkers newcomer Eli Egger (Benedictine College) will debut in the evening’s second contest as Rochester looks for its seventh-straight win against the Border Cats this summer. For ticket information, visit rochesterhonkers.com or head to the ticket booth at Mayo Field. Game two is tentatively set to start at 7:20 p.m.

###

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.