(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (16-14) swept the North Division-leading Waterloo Bucks (20-11) after a 15-11 victory (seven innings) in game two Thursday evening at Mayo Field. Both teams combined for five home runs and eight extra-base hits. 15 of the original 18 starters on both team scored at least one run. Johnathan Fleek (Western Illinois) drove in a season-high four runs on two hits. Michael Michalak (DMACC) batted five-for-seven in both games combined, driving in five runs and scoring four himself.
Ten runs crossed the plate for Rochester and Waterloo in the first inning. Jay Schuyler (San Diego) doubled with one out, scoring Dalton Hurd (Seattle) from second base. Tyler Stover (UL Lafayette) followed with a single to right field, bringing in Schuyler.
13 Honkers batted in the bottom of the first inning, scoring eight runs on four two-RBI singles. The Waterloo starting pitcher, Nathan Walker (San Diego), was not able to make it out of the inning. He gave up all eight runs while only retiring one batter. Walker took the loss (3-2) for the Bucks.
Both pitching staffs settled in, throwing seven consecutive scoreless half-innings, but the offenses heated back up towards the end of the game.
The Honkers looked to extend their lead in the fifth inning. Michael Michalak (DMACC) singled to left field, scoring Zeke Pinkham (Louisville) from second base. Johnathan Fleek (Western Illinois) followed with a two-run home run to left field, his first of the season.
Waterloo cut back into the Rochester lead with four runs in the sixth inning on a double by Keaton Presley (Central Arkansas) and a home run by Jay Schuyler (San Diego).
Ryan Fitzpatrick (UC Irvine) answered with his own two-run home run, his fourth of the season. Fleek drove in two more runs on a two-out double to center field.
The Bucks made a serious effort to come back in the seventh inning, scoring five runs on three hits, but were not able to overcome the nine-run deficit.
Eddie Mathis (Bellarmine) earned the win (3-3) for the Honkers. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up five runs on 11 hits. He struck out four batters and walked two.
Both teams will face off again tomorrow night in Waterloo. First pitch from Riverfront Stadium is 6:35 p.m. Hunter Sullivan (Louisville) is scheduled to start for the Honkers. Sullivan is 3-0 this season with a 1.80 ERA.
The Honkers next home game is Saturday, July 1 against the Willmar Stingers. It will be a Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Olmsted Medical Center and ABC 6 News. It is also part of the Bob the Bug Man “Swatter Series.” First pitch Saturday is 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
###
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
