(Rochester, Minn.) – The Willmar Stingers completed a two-game sweep defeating the Rochester Honkers 16-2 Wednesday at Bill Taunton Stadium. The Stingers won their fifth straight game to move to 6-2 in the second half and 28-15 overall. The Honkers fall to 2-6 and 19-25.
Christian Robinson (Stanford) came in to pinch-hit in the eighth and ripped his third home run of the year over the center field wall. Additionally, Michael Michalak (Illinois) hit his team-leading fourth home run of the year.
Honkers starting pitcher Darin Kilfoyl (Saint Johns River State) picked up his first loss of the year after throwing 4 2/3 innings surrendering four runs on five hits. Kilfoyl was able to strike out five to give him 35 strike outs in 24 2/3 innings this season.
Willmar got on top in the third as Tyler Reichenborn (Iowa Western) tripled to drive in the game’s first run. Jayson Newman (Cal State Northridge) gave the Stingers a 2-0 advantage driving in Reichenborn with a sacrifice fly.
Joey Ortiz (New Mexico State) added to Willmar’s lead in the fifth driving in two more runs with a single to put the Stingers up 4-0.
The Stingers broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning. Eli Wilson (Minnesota) got the rally started with a two-RBI single to put Willmar up 6-0. Newman drove in his second run of the game with a double to extend the Stingers lead to 7-0.
The Stingers were able to add seven more runs in the seventh. Matt Rudick (San Diego State) singled home the first run of the inning. Reichenborn drove in his second run of the game with a double to extend the lead to 9-0. Wilson gave Willmar a 10-0 lead as he singled home Rudick. Newman drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single of his own. Davis Elliot (North Alabama) drove in three runs with a double to cap off the scoring in the seventh.
Robinson gave the Honkers their first run in the eighth with a home run to center.
The Stingers added two more in the eighth as Cal Elvers (Miami OH) was hit by a pitch to bring home a run. Joey Ortiz (New Mexico State) drove in a run with a single to extend the lead to 16-1.
Michalak drove in the Honkers second run in the ninth with a solo home run to make the score 16-2.
Stingers starting pitcher Matt Ornelas (Nova Southeastern) posted his third win of the year after tossing six scoreless innings.
The Honkers travel to Mankato to take on the MoonDogs on Thursday. Drew Slade is scheduled to start for the Honkers, Slade has a 1-5 record and has posted a 6.63 ERA. Josh Ramirez (Washburn) is scheduled to start for the MoonDogs. Ramirez has recorded a 3.40 ERA and a 2-1 record. 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. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). 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.