(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers fell to the Battle Creek Bombers 7-5 at Mayo Field on Thursday night, despite a two home run night from Drew Ellis (Louisville), which brought his season total to 11.
Ellis launched home runs in the fourth and eighth innings on his way to a 2-for-3 night with four RBI and three runs scored.
The Honkers took the lead in the second on a RBI single from Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) to score Ellis. The Bombers tied the game on a home run from Nick Poirier (Michigan) in the third.
Cody Young (Austin Peay) hit a RBI single to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth. In the bottom part of the frame, Ellis hit his first home run of the game to tie it at two.
The Bombers added three runs in the fifth, and then Daniel Jipping (Central Michigan) hit a two-run home run in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Ellis launched his second home run of the day, this time a three-run shot to cut the Bombers lead to 7-5, but that would be the final score.
Ricky Delgado (1-4) (UC-Riverside) got the start and the loss for the Honkers; he went 4.2 innings, allowed five runs, one of them earned, on nine hits, walked two and struck out three. Brett Herber (Winona State) pitched 2.1 innings of relief; he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out two. Lance Berringer (Washington) and Bayley Chesterton (Riverside CC) threw the final two innings of relief.
Cody Puckett (5-2) (Middle Tennessee State) picked up the win in his start for the Bombers; he went five innings, allowed two runs on three hits, walked four and struck out 10. David Inman (Florida Southwestern) pitched two innings and struck out four.
Ellis led the Honkers’ offense with his two homer night, while Fitchett went 1-for-4 with one RBI. Cody Sporrer (UC-Riverside) went 3-for-5 and Jipping went 1-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Bombers.
With the loss, the Honkers fall to 11-17 in the second half and 18-45 overall, while the Bombers move to 15-11 in the second half and 33-29 overall.
The Honkers will take on the Bombers again for Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Wells Fargo and ABC 6 News. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00! The Honkers are in Thunder Bay for a weekend series against the Border Cats. Saturday, first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s first pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.
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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!
