](Duluth, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (14-17 Second Half, 30-36 Overall) recorded five extra-base hits in a 13-1 blowout win over the Duluth Huskies (15-19, 30-39) on Thursday night at Wade Stadium. Kenyon Yovan (Oregon) pitched his best game of the season, holding Duluth to one run in eight innings. Three Honkers collected multiple hits in the game, including three by Mike Echavia (Nevada), who drove in a game-high four runs.
Zach Zubia (Texas) was one of three Honkers to score three runs in the game, which gave the Longhorn red-shirt freshman a team-record 59 runs this season. His double in the seventh inning also tied the Northwoods League single-season extra-base hits record of 39 held by Marc Flores of Willmar in 2013.
The Honkers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning on three hits, three walks, and a Duluth error. Konnor Zickefoose (UC Irvine) and Echavia both hit two-RBI doubles to lead the way.
Duluth scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a one-out single by Alec Abercrombie (North Dakota State) which scored Luke Roskam (Nebraska) from second base.
Leading 8-1, Zubia led off the top of the seventh inning with a double and scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice by Michael Michalak (Des Moines Area CC). Jordan Hart (Minnesota State-Mankato) added another in the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Rochester capped off the offensive outburst by adding three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the eighth inning, including an RBI triple by Michalak.
Spencer Johnson (Wayne State) closed out the ninth inning for the Flock, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
Yovan earned the win (1-1) for the Honkers. He held the Huskies scoreless after the second inning only allowing one hit and retired the final eight batters he faced. Yovan finished with eight innings pitched, giving up one run on three hits while striking out six batters and walking two.
Garrett Brown (Point) took the loss (4-7) for the Huskies. He gave up six runs on three hits and three walks without recording an out.
The Honkers will finish the series against the Huskies on Friday, August 11. First pitch from Wade Stadium is 6:35 p.m. Drew Slade (Ripon) is scheduled to pitch for the Honkers. Slade is 5-2 this season with 33 strikeouts in 60 innings. Gaylon Viney (Central Oklahoma) is scheduled to pitch for the Huskies. Viney is 3-3 this season with a 6.49 ERA in 44.1 innings.
The next home game will be on Saturday, August 12, against the Mankato MoonDogs. It will be a Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Kerry and ABC 6 News. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Michael Stryffeler (Lake Erie) is scheduled to start for the Honkers. Stryffeler has 31 strikeouts in 37.2 innings this season.
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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, more than 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.
