(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (15-14) defeated the Waterloo Bucks (20-10) by a score of 9-3 at Mayo Field Thursday afternoon to complete a postponed game from June 17. Zach Zubia (Texas) and Michael Michalak (DMACC) both hit two home runs in the game. The originally scheduled game was scheduled to start at 1:50 p.m.
The game was resumed in the top of the third inning, with the Honkers leading 2-0. A two-run home run in the first inning by Zach Zubia (Texas) was the game’s only scoring play entering the resumption. Keaton Presley (Central Arkansas) was at first base with no outs and a 3-0 count to Deion Thompson (Western Illinois) when the game was called.
Manny Armendariz (Doane) continued the game for the Honkers midway through the third inning. Zachary Patterson (Arkansas State) pitched for the Waterloo Bucks to start the bottom of the third.
The Bucks loaded the bases with no outs following the resumption. Josh Elvir (Angelina) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Presley from third base.
The Bucks returned in the top of the fifth inning to score two runs on three hits, taking a 3-2 lead.
The Honkers answered in the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases with two outs. Morgan McCullough (Oregon) doubled off to left field, scoring Zubia and Jordan Hart (Minnesota State-Mankato) and reclaiming the lead, 4-3.
The Honkers poured it on with four runs in the sixth inning. Zubia hit a three-run home run with no outs, his tenth of the year. Even though the home runs were hit on two separate days, Zubia had his second multi-home run game of the season. Two batters later, Rochester-native Michalak hit a solo home run.
Michalak returned in his next at-bat and hit a second solo home run in the eighth inning to cap off a 9-3 victory.
Armendariz and Griffin Neuer (Bellarmine) combined to pitch four scoreless innings to finish the game.
Armendariz earned the win (1-0) for the Honkers. He pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one.
Patterson took the loss (1-2) for the Bucks. He pitched four innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out six batters and walking four.
The originally scheduled game was scheduled to start at 1:50 p.m., 30 minutes after the completion of the resumed game.
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