Aufderheide paces Honkers to win, .500 record
(Rochester, Minn.) – Right-handed starting pitcher Cameron Aufderheide (Colorado Springs) pitched five strong, three-hit innings in the Rochester Honkers’ (7-7) victory, 7-2, over the Bismarck Larks (7-7) on Monday night.
Aufderheide dueled Bismarck starting pitcher Mitchell Cavanagh (Oswego State), who also pitched through five innings. Cavanagh allowed two hits and two runs.
The ballgame, which was played in just under three hours, was scoreless through five innings until Bismarck took the lead on a run-scoring triple by first baseman Mason Pierzchalski (North Dakota State) in the top of the sixth.
The Honkers answered the run with three of their own – two scoring on a triple by center fielder Weston Hatten (Nevada). Third baseman Michael Michalak (Des Moines Area Community College) then drove in Hatten with a sacrifice fly to left field.
In the following inning, Hatten singled to right field with the bases loaded to drive in two more runs, which extended the Honker head to five. Right fielder Jordan Hart (Minnesota State Mankato) singled to score first baseman Zach Zubia (Texas), which was the Honkers’ final run of the inning.
The Larks responded with a lone run in the top of the ninth inning, but ultimately fell short.
Left fielder Cullen Smith (East Tennessee State) highlighted the Larks’ offense with two hits and a run scored. Pierzchalski also recorded two hits and drove in a run.
Hatten provided the largest offensive impact for the Honkers with a total of four RBIs in the game as well as one run scored.
The Honkers have the day off Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Honkers will travel to La Crosse for a game against the Loggers at 12:05 p.m. Following this matchup, the two teams will return to Rochester to play at 7:05 p.m. on the same day. The evening game is Mayor Ardell Brede Bobblehead Night at Mayo Field presented by City Auto Glass, ABC 6 News and Olmsted National Bank. Righthander Ryan Dorney (St. Martin's) will receive the day game start for the Honkers, and Chia-Ching Ho (National Taiwan Sports University) will start the evening game.
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