(Rochester, Minn.)– In a game that featured as many walks as hits, the Honkers could never muster enough offense to pull ahead in the ballgame. The Honkers dropped the first game Sunday’s doubleheader to the Duluth Huskies, 2-1.
Both teams combined to walk 10 batters but struggled to drive them in. Honkers starting pitcher Chad Hodges (South Dakota) pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks and 2 runs, both earned. Most of the trouble Hodges faced came in the 2nd and 3rd innings where the Huskies filled the bases in consecutive innings. In the 2nd inning, Hodges struck out the side after filling the bases after giving up a leadoff double and walking back-to-back batters. He wasn’t so fortunate in the 3rd inning after Michael Fries (Butler) single drove in the game’s first run.
Hodges was forced to deal with another bases loaded situation later in the 3rd inning when he’d hit Huskies catcher Nathan Krause (Winona State) to allow the second run of the inning. However, Hodges limited the damage when the Huskies threatened, keeping them 0-5 at the plate with the bases loaded.
But the Honkers weren’t better with the bases loaded Sunday afternoon. They themselves had two at-bats with the bases packed in the 5th inning after Huskies starter Corey Copping (Oklahoma) walked Tanner Buenting (Iowa Central CC). After relieving Copping, Jake Popovich (Florida Southern) would get Blake Lezynski (Notre Dame) to pop out to shortstop and Travis Evanson (Winona State) to fly out to right field.
The Honkers only run would come on a Karl Sorenson (St. Cloud) double to right field, scoring Lezynski back in the 4th inning.
The Honkers will have to quickly ready themselves for a second contest of the day against the Huskies. Logan Spitzack will take the mound for the Honkers in an attempt to get the Honkers back to their winning ways.
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visitwww.rochesterhonkers.com.
