Echavia Stays Hot in Loss to Huskies

(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (7-4 Second Half, 23-23 Overall) dropped the series finale to the Duluth Huskies (7-5, 22-25) by a score of 11-3 on Sunday afternoon at Mayo Field. Mike Echavia (Nevada) extended his hitting streak to five games with his fourth home run in that span.

Kevin Hubbach (North Alabama) and Luke Roskam (Nebraska) hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning, giving the Huskies an early 3-0 lead.

Duluth returned to score three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Augie Isaacson (Friends University) doubled to left field with two outs, which scored two runs. Andrew Robinson (Western Carolina) followed with an RBI single to left field, scoring Isaacson from second base.

Echavia gave the Honkers their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a solo home run off the scoreboard in right-center field.

Hubbach returned in the top of the fifth inning, hitting his second home run of the game, a solo home run to right field.

The Huskies scored four runs on four hits and a Rochester error in the top of the eighth inning.

Two runs scored for the Honkers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after an error by the Duluth third baseman on a ground ball hit by Zach Zubia (Texas). That would be as far as the Honkers would get. Stephen Yancey (Texas Wesleyan) struck a batter out for the final out of the game.

Garrett Brown (Point University) earned the win (4-3) for the Huskies. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits while striking out four batters and walking four.

Joe Wills (Cal State Fullerton) took the loss (1-1) for the Honkers. He pitched 5.0 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits while striking out five batters and walking one.

The Honkers will take a three-day break from their busy season schedule for the Northwoods League All-Star festivities on Tuesday, July 18, at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wis. Two Honker players, Jordan Hart (Minnesota State-Mankato) and Zach Zubia (Texas) will take part in the Home Run Derby, which starts at 5:00 p.m. Zubia (first base) will represent the Honkers in the All-Star Game, which starts at 7:05 p.m. later that night.

The next home game is Thursday, July 20, against the Bismarck Larks. It will be Rally Time at the ballpark. Rally Entertainment, a nationally-known mascot show will be performing at Mayo Field, presented by McNeilus Steel and ABC 6 News. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 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. 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, 180 former 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 portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Honkers as your favorite team.