(Rochester, Minn.) – Matt Brown (Jeff Co) hit a solo home run to break a 3-3 tie in the eighth, and then scored five runs in the ninth, including a solo home run by Dainel Gardner (San Diego) to beat the Honkers 9-3 at Mayo Field Thursday night.

 

The Huskies scored two runs in the first inning; scoring both due to errors. In the bottom of the first, the Honkers scored a run on a RBI single from Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge).

 

Nic Strasser (West Florida) hit a solo home run in the fifth, making the score 3-1. Czarske hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Brown’s home run broke the 3-3 tie in the eighth, then the Huskies got another home run, this time from Gardner in the top of the ninth, making the score 5-3.

 

The Huskies added another four runs in the top of the ninth to win the game 9-3.

 

Jackson Douglas (Iowa Western CC) got the start for the Honkers; he pitched five innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, and struck out five. Carter Lilly (0-1) (Corpus Christi) got the loss for Rochester; he pitched 1.2 innings, allowed six runs on three hits and struck out one.

 

Toby Anderson (Minnesota) got the start for the Huskies; he pitched 5.2 innings, allowed three runs on six hits and struck out eight. Corey Gaconi (1-0) (Southeastern Louisiana) got the win for Duluth; he pitched 3.1 innings, allowed six hits and struck out four.

 

Czarske paced the Honkers offense, going 2 for 4 with one run scored and three RBI. Mark Contreras (UC Riverside) was also 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

 

Brown led the Huskies offense, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

 

With the loss the Honkers fall to 5-12, and the Huskies move to 9-9.

 

The Honkers are back in action Saturday night as they take on the Willmar Stingers at Mayo Field. Saturday night is Kemps Kids Night! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6. Sunday, the Honkers will take on the Stingers again, this time at 1:05 p.m. and gates open at noon! Sunday is Wells Fargo Day! Also, it is I Bike/Walk Rochester presented by Olmsted County Public Health. Park and wakl from the designated parking lot, and get a free general admission ticket! Bike to the game and get a free ticket as well, while supplies last. 1 ticket per person!

 

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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