(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers fell to the Willmar Stingers 4-3 in 11 innings Thursday night in Willmar, which included a one hour and 50 minute weather delay. Kole Cottam (Kentucky) hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 11th to get the Stingers the win.
The Honkers started the game with a 1-0 lead, when Drew Ellis (Louisville) hit an RBI single to centerfield to score Jackson Thoreson (St. Mary’s). Danny Mayer (Pacific) hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game for the Stingers.
Ellis then smashed a solo home run in the top of the fifth to give the Honkers a 2-1 lead, but Luke Becker (Kentucky) hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to tie it up at 2.
The Stingers then got a sacrifice fly from Danny Pardo (Montevallo) to get a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. That lead didn’t last long as Fitchett tied things up with a single in the top of the eighth.
With Quiny McAfee (Pepperdine) on second and one out in the 11th, Cottam hit a double to score the winning run.
Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) got the start for the Honkers; he pitched three innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out one. Stevie Ledesma (Santa Barbara City College) and Tanner Schumacher (Purude) each threw two innings of relief. Ricky Delgado (UC Riverside) threw three, shut out innings of relief. Isaac Friesen (0-4) (Hawaii) took the loss for the Honkers; he threw 0.1 innings and allowed an unearned run.
Corey Binger (Nebraska Omaha) got the start for the Stingers; he threw 3.2 innings, allowed one run on four hits and walked two. Brad Schaenzer (Kentucky) threw 4.1 innings for Willmar; he allowed two runs on six hits and struck out two. Jake Rothwell (1-1) (Daytona State) earned the win for the Stingers; he threw the final three innings of pay, allowed no runs on one hit, walked two and struck out three.
Kyle Kasser (Oregon) went 3 for 5 with a run scored, while Ellis was 4 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored to help pace the Honkers’ offense. The Honkers’ out hit the Stingers 11-10.
Becker went 3 for 5 with an RBI to lead the Stingers’ offense.
This weekend is an All-Star Animal Weekend at Mayo Field! Friday, The Honkers and St. Cloud Rox will battle it out on American Dairy Night! We have the 22nd Annual Cow Milking Contest! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6! Saturday is Bark in the Park night presented by Leashes and Leads! Bring your dog on a leash and you both get a general admission ticket for free! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6!
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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 or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Honkers as your favorite team
