ROCHESTER, MN. – The Honkers started strong, played well in the middle innings, and finished strong as they defeated the Waterloo Bucks 4-1 in front of 979 fans.
Rochester’s starting pitcher Dwayne Marshall started the game on a high note by striking out two of his first three batters.
The Honkers’ offense made sure there was no letdown as Evan Berkey (Cal State-Bakersfield) hit a solo home run to give the Honkers a one-run in the first inning.
Marshall kept the momentum going by only allowing one hit in the second inning and retiring the side in the third.
Rochester increased its lead to 2-0 in their half of the third when Berkey hit a groundout that scored Henry George (UM-Duluth) from third base.
The Bucks’ offense finally got going in the fourth when Dylan Phillips hit a solo home run to pull Waterloo within one run.
That small lead didn’t last long as the Honkers got another run in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The 3-1 lead came from Tim Borden (Louisville) hitting a double and Brennan Schmitt (UW-La Crosse) bringing him home with an RBI single.
Marshall bounced back from allowing the homer by pitching a scoreless fifth and sixth inning. He finished with five strikeouts and only allowed three hits in six innings.
In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Tristan Peterson (New Mexico State) hit the Honkers’ second solo home run of the night to give Rochester a comfortable 4-1 lead.
The Honkers’ three relievers, Anthony Rodriguez (Monroe College), Marty Tolson Jr. (Maryland-Eastern Shore) and Keon Taylor (Georgetown College), combined to give up only one hit, a single, in three innings of work.
Marshall earned his first win of the season, while Taylor (Georgetown College) recorded his second save.
Rochester’s record now stands at 8-6.
The Honkers head to Bismarck, North Dakota, Tuesday, June 11, to play four games in three days against the Larks.
Season tickets and new all-you-can-eat ticket packages are available for purchase right now at www.RochesterHonkers.com or by calling the Honkers front office at 507-289-1170.
The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 26th 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, over 200 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 (MIA). 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.
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