ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Loggers set the tone from the first pitch when RJ Hamilton drove a pitch over the left field wall. La Crosse would never look back.

It was a dazzling offensive display featuring 14 runs on 24 hits, led by Mateo Gray. The designated hitter from UCF accounted for five of those hits.

The Honkers had contributions from a number of hitters who helped Rochester to stay in the game through the early parts of the ball game. 

Maddox Haley had his fifth home run of the year with a beauty of a fly ball that cleared the centerfield fence. Tommy Eisenstat pieced together a pair of RBI’s, scoring Hara in the sixth and Charney in the eighth.

It was a night to forget, however, for the Honkers who dropped their fifth straight and now fall to 1-10 at home on the season.

The Honkers will have a chance to change that this weekend as they welcome the surging Thunder Bay Border Cats for two straight. First pitch for Saturday’s game is set for 6:35 PM, Jacob Tostado will start for Rochester.

La Crosse will return home in sole possession of first place in the Great Plains East. They will welcome Wilmar for two games this weekend.

The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit northwoodsleague.com/rochester-honkers 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.