(Rochester, Minn.) – The Honkers fell 11-3 to the Willmar Stingers at Mayo Field Sunday afternoon.
The Stingers scored four runs in the first inning and seven runs in the sixth inning, while the Honkers got a two-run home run from Christopher Scalisi (Redlands) in the second to get on the board.
Devin Foyle (Kansas) hit a single with the bases loaded to score two runs in the first to get the Stingers on the board. Foyle later scored on a wild pitch, and then Eddie Estrada (Minnesota) hit a RBI single, making the score 4-0 after one.
Scalisi hit a two-run home run in the second to cut the Stingers lead in half.
Justin Toerner (Cal State Northridge) hit a ground-rule double with the bases loaded, scoring two runs. Luke Becker (Kentucky) walked in a run, while Travis Wacker (Oklahoma State) hit a single to score another run. The Stingers added three more runs in the sixth, taking an 11-2 lead.
Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth for the Honkers, making the score 11-3.
Clayton McGinness (1-2) (Wichita State) got the start and the loss for the Honkers; he pitched four innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three. The Honkers then used a combination of four pitchers to finish the game.
Tyler Hanson (1-0) (Minnesota) got the win and the start for the Stingers; he pitched six innings, allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out six. Bradley Bailey (North Alabama) pitched two innings of relief, and allowed one run on two hits.
Toerner went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Stingers offense. Brandon Perez (Southern California) went 3 for 5 as well for Willmar. Miles Lewis (North Dakota) went 3 for 4 with a run scored to pace the Honker offense, while Scalisi went 1 for 4 with two RBI and Fitchett was 1 for 4 with one RBI.
The Honkers have an off day Monday, before heading to Eau Claire on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m. The Honker will take on the same Eau Claire team on Wednesday afternoon. It is Kid’s 3 Buck Day, where kids age 12 and down can get a general admission ticket for $3! First pitch is set for 12:05 and gates open at 11!
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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
