(Rochester, Minn.) – A RBI single by Bryce Marquardt (Bethel University) and a 2-RBI double by Miles Lewis (North Dakota) in the top of the sixth inning earned the Honkers a 7-6 win in a game shortened due to the weather and unplayable field conditions against the Mankato MoonDogs at Franklin Rodgers Park in Mankato tonight.
The Honkers took the lead in the first, as MoonDogs’ starter Connor Herd (Mercer) walked three batters. Jed Sprague (Nevada) and Lucas Lorenz (Northern State) took bases loaded walks to give the Honkers a 2-0 lead after one.
Christopher Scalisi (Redlands) hit a 2-RBI double in the third to push the Honkers lead to 4-0 in the top of the third. The MoonDogs tied it in the bottom of the third, when Mankato got RBI hits from Drew Fearing (NDSU), Jake Shepski (Notre Dame) and Marcus Pingleton (Heartland CC) scored on a pass ball to tie the game at four.
After Marquardt’s and Lewis’ RBI hits in the top of the sixth, the MoonDogs scored two runs in the sixth, but the Honkers were able to stop the bases-loaded threat to get the victory.
Herd went 2.2 innings, allowing one hit, four runs, walked five and struck out one. Sean Terres (0-1) (NDSU) took the loss for the MoonDogs pitching one inning, allowed three runs, walked two and struck out two.
Spencer Johnson (1-0) (Wayne State) got win and the start for the Honkers going 5.2 innings. He allowed five hits, four runs, walked three and struck out five. Tanner Schumacher got his first save of the season in relief.
Lewis led Honkers hitters by going 2 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored. Shepski led the MoonDogs’ offense by going 1 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored.
The teams will play, two seven inning games tomorrow in Rochester, gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with a first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The Sports Deck, Victoria’s Restaurant Suite and the CHS Grand Slam Patio will open at 6 p.m. The MoonDogs will be the home team for game one and the Honker being the home team for game two. The second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the first game ends. Jackson Rose (Barton CC) will start game one for the Honkers and Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) will start game two.
The Honkers will hit the road and travel to St. Cloud to battle the Rox on Friday and Saturday. Rochester will travel to La Crosse to take on the Loggers Sunday night, and then face the same Loggers team at Mayo Field Monday night, which is MN Bankers Association Night!
All Rochester Honkers’ games can be heard on 1520 AM ‘The Ticket”. Season tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information or go to 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 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com
