ROCHESTER, MINN – The Rochester Honkers defeated the Bismarck Larks 7-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Mayo Field. 

The Larks took an early 1-0 lead in the third on another home run off the bat of Jake Hjelle (Minnesota Crookston), his second of the series. However, the Honkers immediately responded. Alex Pimentel (Long Beach State) gave Rochester a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double. 

The Honkers extended their lead in the fifth. Nico Regino (Charleston Southern) made it 3-1 with an RBI double and Kevin Dowdell (West Virginia) added two more with a single to right. 

Bismarck tied the game in the seventh. They scored a run on a fielder choice, bases loaded walk and two hit-by-pitches with the bases full. All four runs were charged to Sam Hanson (St. John’s) however none were earned. 

Rochester took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Carson Stevens (Cal Poly) made it 6-5 with a sac-fly and Tyler White (Long Beach State) drove in a run in the eighth with a single. 

Thaniel Trumper (Doane) came on in the ninth and got into and out of trouble, recording his fourth save of the summer and locking down a Rochester victory. 

The Honkers improve to 12-16 overall and 10-5 at home this summer. They will be away from home the next two nights as they start a two game series in Duluth tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.