(Rochester, Minn)–After having the season opener postponed in Rochester Tuesday night, the Rochester Honkers started their season on the road, taking a 2-0 win from the Mankato MoonDogs at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato, Minn.. Jason Yano (Stevens Institute of Technology) earned the win, allowing just two hits in 7.2 innings of work. Spencer Greer (Dixie State) closed the game out for Rochester on the mound and was credited with the save. William Paschal (Georgia Gwinnett) lead the Honkers at the plate with two hits and a run-batted-in.
The game was dominated by pitchers early on. Yano minimalized the MoonDogs’ effectiveness even without matching the strikeout count put up by the MoonDogs’ starter, Austin Warner (Bellarmine University), who had 10 Ks in 5 innings.
The two teams combined for just five hits through seven innings. In the eighth, Colby Green (Triton CC) got to first on a walk by Mankato reliever Reece Edins (Nebraska), then advanced to third on sacrifice grounders by Zach Heaser (North Dakota) and Trey Kamachi (Dixie State). Paschal followed that up with a single that brought Green in for what would be the go-ahead run. The Honkers other run came when Brad Mathiowetz (DMACC) scored on an error by catcher Kaden Moore (Indiana State) on what would be the game’s final play as Joe DeRoche-Duffin (UCONN), who tied Paschal for the team lead in hits, was thrown out attempting to steal third.
The Honkers’ Next game will be their home opener on Thursday, May 28th, against the Alexandria Blue Anchors. It will be the first game of a two-game home stand against the Blue anchors before the Honkers head out on a five-game road trip. Thursday the World Famous ZOOperstars will be entertaining the crowd and the first 500 fans will receive a free poster schedule courtesy of Johnson Printing.
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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 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com
