(Rochester, Minn) – After winning the suspended game from July 5th, the Honkers defeated the Bucks 6-2 in a seven-inning affair at Mayo Field Wednesday night.
The Bucks scored their two runs in the first and second innings on solo home runs. In the first, Alex Boxwell (Minnesota) hit his, and then in the second inning Jake Hand (Southern Illinois University) hit his solo shot.
The Honkers tied the game in the third, and it started with Turner Buis (Cal State Fullerton) hitting into a fielder’s choice to score Jacob Thomas (UC Davis). Later that inning, the Honkers scored again when Drew Ellis (Louisville) hit into a fielder’s choice to score Kyle Kasser (Oregon) to tie the game at 2.
The Honkers took the lead for good in the fifth; it started when Kasser scored on a wild pitch, and then Josh Davis (Pepperdine) hit a RBI single to score Buis to make the score 4-2.
In the sixth, the Honkers earned another two runs off of a Drew Ellis (Louisville) RBI single to give the Honkers a 6-2 win.
Robert Paccione (LIU-Post) got the start for the Honkers; he went four innings, allowed two runs on three hits, walked three and struck out three. David Worrell (1-2) (Corpus Christi) went 1.1 innings to get the win; he allowed one hit, walked three and struck out two. Stevie Ledesman (Santa Barbara City) came in with the bases loaded and two out, and struck out one and forced a groundout to get out of the inning, and then allowed one hit in the ninth, but no runs to earn his first save of the season.
Jared Crescentini (Missouri Baptist) got the start for the Bucks; he went four innings, allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out one. Hunter Spencer (1-1) (Bellarmine University) took the loss for the Bucks went 0.1 innings for the Bucks; he allowed two runs on two hits.
Kasser went 4 for 4 with three runs scored to lead the Honkers offense, while Ellis went 1 for 4 with three RBI.
Hand went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI to lead the Bucks, while Boxwell went 1 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored.
With the win, the Honkers move to 3-5 in the second half and 10-33 overall, while the Bucks fall to 4-4 in the second half and 26-17 overall. The Bucks lead the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup Series 4-3, so the Honkers must win their last matchup of the season in Waterloo on Monday, July 25 to win a share of the title.
The Honkers take on the Kalamazoo Growlers Thursday at Mayo Field for Hawaiian Night! Fans are encouraged to wear their Hawaiian attire as the team will wear their Hawaiian-themed jerseys! It is also the Great Holiday Giveaway! The first 1,000 fans will receive a coupon book from Holiday that includes one FREE slice of pizza per week from now until Labor Day! (8 total) There will also be 20 Holiday Gift Cards given away! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00! Friday, the Honkers will take on the same Growlers team on Friday for Scout Night! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00!
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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!
