(Rochester, Minn.)—The Rochester Honkers dropped their second straight game to the Eau Claire Express Wednesday night 8-1. Jayson Yano (Stevens Institute) was charged with just his second loss on the season, moving him to 5-2 on the year. Austin Shulfer (UW-Milwaukee) earned the win for Eau Claire and Dalton Roach (Minnesota State) picked up the save.
Shulfer and Yano had a veritable pitchers duel going for the first five innings, as neither side could gain the advantage.
Rochester broke through first on a solo homerun from Joe DeRoche-Duffin in the top of the sixth. It was Duffin’s fourth homer in four games and his eighth of the year, which is second in the NWL and first in the North Division this season.
The Express would comeback in the bottom of the sixth with three runs of their own, including the game tier on a wild pitch, to take a 3-1 lead.
Rochester failed to put a runner in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings, and that proved fatal, as Eau Claire would score five runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-1 lead. The Honkers would get only a single from Matt Fiedler (Minnesota) and could not mount a comeback to cut into the seven-run deficit.
Rochester is now halfway through a four game road trip and sit at 0-2 on that trip after dropping this series in Eau Claire. They will look to get back on track tomorrow as they head to Willmar for the first of a two game series against the Stingers.
On Saturday, July 11th, the Honkers will be back at Mayo Field to face the St. Cloud Rox for a double header of seven-inning games starting at 6:05. It will be the Field of Future Stars presented by Meshbesher and Spence. All RYBA, RYSA, RYHA, Girls Softball and Miracle League players wearing their uniform top gain free admission to the game!
You can follow all the Honkers action on Sports Radio AM 1520 The Ticket with Clinton Cole, and on the Northwoods League Live stream, which can be found at northwoodsleague.com. Just click on the Watch Games Live link.
The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com
