(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers fell to the St. Cloud Rox 6-2 at Mayo Field in Game 2 of the two-game series Saturday night.
The Honkers scored the first two runs of the game. The first one came in the third inning when Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) got up to the plate with the bases loaded, and he was able to drive in Keaton Weisz (Auburn) to get the Honkers up 1-0.
The Honkers then got a solo home run from Drew Ellis (Louisville) in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
The Rox scored on a bases-loaded balk, and then got a RBI single from Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) to tie the game at two. The Rox then took the lead when Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) hit a RBI single to take a 3-2 lead.
Brandon Benson (Georgia College) hit a solo home run to push the Rox’s lead to 4-2 in the seventh. The Rox added another run in the seventh and one more in the eighth to take the 6-2 win.
Erik Cha (0-4) (Cal State Fullerton) got the start and the loss for the Honkers; he went five innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out four. Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) went two innings in relief; he allowed two runs on one hit and walked three. Stevie Ledesmab(Santa Barbara City College) and Ricky Delgado (UC Riverside) also pitched in relief. They finished the final two innings, allowing a combined one run on three hits and struck out four.
Shelby Lackey (1-0) (University of Pacific) got the start and the win for the Rox; he went six innings, allowed two runs, one of them earned, on five hits, walked one and struck out four. Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) and Brian Glowicki (Minnesota) each pitched in relief for the Rox; they did not allow a hit and struck out four.
Turner Buis advanced his hit streak to 15 games by going 1 for 4 against the Rox. Fitchett was also 1 for 4 with an RBI to help lead the offense.
Benson went 2 for 2 with two RBI and a run scored to lead St. Cloud.
The Honkers fall to 0-4 in the second half and 7-32 overall. The Rox move to 2-1 in the second half and 26-12 overall.
Tomorrow the Honkers will take on the Willmar Stingers for an afternoon affair. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. and gates open at Noon! Kids eat free on the Sports Deck, with the purchase of an Adult Sports Deck Ticket, and run the bases after the game! Also, it is a Kids Club Day! It is also I Bike/Walk Rochester presented by Olmsted Count Public Health! Park and walk from the designated parking lot and get one free ticket per walker! Ride your bike to the game and get a free ticket per bike rider! All tickets are while supplies last! Monday, the Honkers will take on the same Stingers team on Team Poster Night presented by Johnson Printing and Quick Country 96.5! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6.
###
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 or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Honkers as your favorite team
