The MoonDogs score 19 runs off Honkers pitching to eliminate Rochester from playoff contention

(Rochester, Minn.)– After a triumphant win last night, the Honkers lost a big game Thursday night, 19-3, to the MoonDogs in Mankato.

After taking the 2-0 lead early in the first inning on an RBI double from Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) and a run-scoring single from Jordan Smith (Minnesota), Honkers starter Ryan Bower (Allan Hancock College) relinquished the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Bower allowed three runs on two hits and one walk, reaching his pitch limit, ending his night after just one inning. Eli Egger (Benedictine College) relieved Bower in the second and allowed six runs to give the MoonDogs a 9-2 lead, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Peter Maris (California, Santa Barbara).

A couple of innings later, the MoonDogs built on their big lead after catcher Dalton DeLeon (Arlington-Texas) hit a three-run home run off Egger, his fourth of the season, to give Mankato a big 13-2 lead in just the fourth inning.

Still in the fourth, Alex Mogensen (Mount Marty College) came on to relieve Egger and inherited a couple of runners. Both baserunners came in to score on a single from Brent Zimmerman (Missouri Baptist), and the MoonDogs led 15-2. The MoonDogs finished the inning with a 17-2 lead after four innings of play.

Mankato added runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take an immense 19-2 lead over Rochester. So after the first inning, the Honkers allowed the MoonDogs to score 19 runs and the Honkers just couldn’t respond. With the loss, the Honkers are officially eliminated from making the playoffs this season. The Honkers added a run in the ninth, but that would be all; they'd lose by a final score of 19-3.

The Honkers can spoil the MoonDogs’ playoff hopes tomorrow in Mankato before they play their final series this season this weekend in Alexandria. You can follow the Honkers on the official Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information about the Rochester Honkers, 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.