Seventeen Honker hits avenge rainy loss Friday night
(Rochester, Minn.)– The Honkers’ offense showed up in a big way on Saturday night, helping Rochester to a 9-8 win over Alexandria.
After last night’s rain-shortened contest, the Honkers got some revenge over the Blue Anchors, compiling 17 hits and pushing them to their 14th win this season. The Honkers jumped out to an early lead after another leadoff hit by speedster Corey Hassel (Oklahoma State), this time a double. He’d eventually score on a groundout from Alex Schultz (Nebraska Omaha). With two outs, Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) hit his first home run this season and the Honkers took a two-run lead into the bottom of the first for starter Spencer Greer (Western Nevada Community College).
Even though he was credited Saturday’s win, Greer wasn’t his sharpest, allowing five earned runs on seven hits – including three home runs – and three walks in five innings. Greer was fortunate a potent Honkers offense and defense came prepared to play at Knute Nelson Memorial. After committing four errors in less than five innings yesterday, the Honkers were error-free Saturday. And some of their slumping bats contributed to the big win tonight, too.
Anthony Sequeira (Oral Roberts) had three hits including a two-run double in the sixth inning to get the Honkers to a 9-5 lead.
Ryan Diers (St. Cloud State) relieved Greer to begin the sixth inning and let the Blue Anchors back in the game after allowing two runs to score on two hits and three walks but stranded the bases loaded after striking out the last two batters of the inning. The Blue Anchors would inch one run closer after Rickey Sanchez (Notre Dame) hit his first home run of the season off of reliever Brandon Stennis (Doane College) in the seventh inning. That’s where the score and the drama would stay until the bottom of the ninth when Honkers reliever Nick Highberger (Creighton) left the game’s tying run on third base and winning run on first and retired the side for the win.
The wild game has the Honkers heading home tomorrow with the momentum to dent the lead the Willmar Stingers have over Rochester in the division. The Honkers host Willmar for two games tomorrow and Monday. At 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Logan Spitzack (St. Cloud State) is set to make his third start of the season against one of the Stingers’ best, Andrew Thome (Walters State Community College). Ticket information can be found at rochesterhonkers.com.
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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.
