(Rochester Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (1-1) dropped their first road game of the season. The Honkers held with the MoonDogs through four innings, but lost control of the game in the fifth.
For the second straight night, the MoonDogs took an early lead in the first inning. After back-to-back singles to open the frame, Nick Vaage (Memphis) tripled to right-center, giving Mankato another 2-0 lead.
The Honkers threatened in the second after two MoonDog errors, but Mankato starter Ricky Digrugilliers (Minnesota State Mankato) was able to escape the inning with a bases-loaded groundout. Digrugilliers was not able to get out of trouble in the third. Honkers’ right fielder Jordan Hart (Minnesota State Mankato) hit a one-out double off his college teammate. Two batters later, Weston Hatten (Nevada) singled to left to tie the game at two, but was caught between first and second base to end the inning.
Rochester starter Ryan Dorney (St. Martin’s), 0-1, held strong against Mankato, striking out four batters, but he could not make it out of the fourth inning. He gave up another two runs on four hits. The flood gates opened for the MoonDogs after Honker reliever Drew Slade (Ripon) walked eight batters, allowing nine runs to cross.
Down big in the ninth, the Honkers did not go down without a fight. Zach Zubia (Texas) led off the inning with a double. He came into score after an error by the Mankato first baseman. The comeback fell short with two runners on base.
Hatten went one-for-three with two RBIs and Zubia finished one-for-three with two runs scored and two walks. Garrett Cobb (Seminole State) pitched a scoreless inning, striking out a batter and walking another.
Ricky Digrugilliers picked up the win for the MoonDogs (1-0), pitching five innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He walked four batters with a strikeout.
The Rochester Honkers return to Mayo Field tomorrow night to face the St. Cloud Rox. Eddie Mathis (Bellarmine) will pitch for the Honkers against Kenny Saenz (BYU) for the Rox. Game time is 7:05, gates open at 6:00 pm. After the game, there will be the first Fireworks Extravaganza of the season, presented by AmericInn and ABC 6 News.
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