In a back-and-forth ballgame that featured a couple of lead changes, The Honkers used a three-run bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and come away with the win. The Honker bats totaled eleven hits, reaching double digits for the first time since June sixth.

With the score knotted at five in the eighth, Rochester worked a pair of walks to put two on for Miguel Ortiz.. (Cal St Fullerton) The sophomore lined a double in the left field corner to plate Jack Collette (San Jose St) to give the Honkers the lead. Alex Pimentel (Long Beach St) followed with another big at bat, driving in Eric Rataczak (Post Grad) and Ortiz to give the Honkers some breathing room.

Rochester fell behind early, an Evan Berkey (Cal St Bakersfield) homer in the first and Luke Beckstein (Kansas St) RBI single in the second gave the Moondogs a two-run lead. The Honkers battled back with the next two runs, a Miguel Ortiz RBI double and Carson Stevens (Cal Poly) bases loaded walk evened the score after four.

Mankato took the lead back in the fifth, Adam Fogel (Hawaii) bombed his second home run of the season against Rochester, a two-run shot with one out.

The Honkers came back to take the lead in a crazy sixth, three straight walks opened the frame, JJ Cruz (Cal St Fullerton) scored on an error, an Eric Rataczak infield single tied it, and Miguel Ortiz infield single gave Rochester the lead.

An Austin Garrett (Kansas St) double tied the game one more time before Rochester took the lead for good in the eighth.

On the mound, Michael Portela (Norfolk St) earned the win, throwing 3.2 innings of one run ball, walking one and striking out four. Patrick Williams (Lipscomb) worked a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to earn the save.

With the win, Rochester secures a split of the doubleheader and improves to 8-12. The Honkers open a two-game series in Wilmar tomorrow night.

By Nick DeLuca//Broadcasting and Media Relations Intern