(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers scored three runs in first and third innings to help push them to a 9-6 win over the La Crosse Loggers in La Crosse, Saturday night.
The first three Honkers got on base and scored Saturday. Bryce Marquardt (Bethel University) reached on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. Christopher Scalisi (Redlands) singled up the middle, and Miles Lewis (North Dakota) singled home Scalisi later that inning.
With the Honkers leading 3-1 in the second inning, the Loggers scored two runs on a single from Casey Danley (Illinois Central CC).
Rochester took the lead back in the third after Brett Harrison (North Dakota) doubled home Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) and Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge). Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) then singled home Harrison to give the Honkers a 6-3 lead.
The Loggers cut the Honkers’ lead to one in the bottom of the third when Luke Farley hit a 2-RBI single. But, the Honkers extended their lead when Lewis scored on a wild pitch, making the score 7-5 in the Honkers favor.
The Loggers cut the lead back down to one in the seventh, but Glad came in relief and shut down the La Crosse rally. The Honkers added on two insurance runs in the eighth, taking advantage of two Loggers errors
Jesse Ellefson (1-0) (Montevallo) came in for starter David Worrell (Corpus Christi) to get the win. Worrell went four innings, gave up three hits, four earned runs, walked five and struck out two. Ellefson went 2.2 innings, gave up one earned run and struck out one. Glad got the save (1) working 2.1 innings.
Jared Liebelt (0-1) got the start for the Honkers, earning the loss, and went four innings, gave up seven hits, six earned runs and struck out three. Nick Raquet (William Mary)
Marquardt and Lewis led the Honkers offense, with Marquardt going 2 for 5 with a run scored. Lewis went 1 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Nobody on the Loggers collected more than one hit, but Danley and David Jacob each collected two RBI in the loss.
The Honkers next home game will be against the La Crosse Loggers, Sunday with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. It is Kids Club Day, so kids eat for free on the Sports Deck and run the bases after the game, presented by Perkins! The Honkers will then battle the Waterloo Bucks Monday at Mayo Field in the first game of the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup! The first 100 fans with get a SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup T Shirt, presented by ABC 6 News! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
It’s opening week in Minnesota in the Northwoods League presented by Minnesota College Savings Plan
The Minnesota College Savings Plan, is Minnesota’s official 529 college savings plan. It takes just $25 to start, making it easier for families to save for higher education expenses. Funds saved can be used at colleges, technical schools and grad schools nationwide to cover the cost of tuition, as well as books, supplies and other qualified expenses. Additionally, SavingforCollege.com recently ranked the Minnesota College Savings Plan as one of the nation’s top performing direct sold 529 plans. Find out more at www.mnsaves.org
All Rochester Honkers’ games can be heard on 1520 AM ‘The Ticket”. Season tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information or go to rochesterhonkers.com
###
The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com
