(Rochester, Minn.)- The Rochester Honkers broke their five game losing streak on Sunday, topping the Waterloo Bucks 3-2 in Rochester. Josh Pigg (Hawaii) earned the win in a quality start, going six innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Jake Sparger (Louisville) was credited with the save. Zach Siggelkow (St. Cloud State) was charged with loss for Waterloo.
The Honkers committed errors in Waterloo’s first three at-bats to start the game, allowing the Bucks to score one unearned and load the bases. Alex Schultz (Nebraska-Omaha) got Rochester out of the bind though, catching a fly ball in center for out number two and gunning down a runner at home for the 8-2 double play and keeping the deficit at 1-0.
The Honkers wouldn’t stay down long though, as Schultz would score on an error by the Waterloo third basemen to tie the game. Matt Fiedler (Minnesota), who put the ball in play that scored Schultz, would advance to third on a balk and score on a sacrifice fly to left by Joe DeRoche-Duffin. Dempsey Grover (UC Santa Barbara) would bring in Mark Contreras (UC Riverside) with a double off the wall near centerfield to put the Honkers up 3-1.
Waterloo would plate a run in the fourth to make it 3-2, and they would threaten in the seventh, but Schultz would show off his arm again and throw out a runner trying to score from second on a single to center. That would be as close as the Bucks would get to a tying run, as the Honkers tied up the standings for the Scheels Highway 63 Cup a 2-2 with the win.
The win also helped the Honkers push for the playoffs. At 11-13 in the second half, they sit in sixth in the division. For the season overall, Rochester is 31-27 and hold a two game advantage over the Bucks for what is currently the final at large berth in the North division.
The Honkers next home game will be Wednesday, July 29th at 7:05 p.m. It will be the second half of a split double header with Waterloo. It will be Super Hero Night. Come to the game dressed as your favorite Super Hero and get free general admission.
All of the Honkers games can be found live on Sports Radio AM 1520 The Ticket with Clinton Cole. You can also listen for free at www.rochesterhonkers.com by clicking on the Listen to Games Live link. Live video streams of the games are available via the Northwoods league Live Stream, powered by Stretch Internet. To access, just visit www.northwoodsleague.com and click on the Watch Games Live link at the bottom of the page.
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
