THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO– The Rochester Honkers suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season as they dropped the third game of a four-game series against the Thunder Bay Border Cats, 3-1. Rochester is now 5-4 after the loss as Thunder Bay moves to 2-7.
Thunder Bay grabbed a run in the third, fourth, and fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. But the Honkers would produce a major threat in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with one man out and with Mitchell Allen (New Mexico State) at the plate. Allen would bring in Evan Berkey (Cal-State Bakersfield) on a fielder’s choice to close the the deficit to 3-1. That’s all the Honkers could muster in the inning as Seth Nelson (Golden West) grounded out to end the frame. Thunder Bay pitching would slam the door from there as Lucas Reid (Sacramento State) would contain Rochester for the rest of the game to secure a Thunder Bay win, and make a winner out of Trent Valentine (Iona).
The Honkers would get five solid innings out of starter Ryan Dorney (Saint Martins) who picked up five strikeouts with three earned runs. Mara Bisigno (Fordham) made his debut for Rochester and pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Logan Nissen (Bethany Lutheran) also picked up a scoreless inning in relief with two punch-outs.
The four-game series concludes on Thursday Morning as the Honkers will look to earn a series split with the Border Cats. The series finale will begin at 10:05 a.m.