Rochester, MN – The St. Cloud Rox battled with the Rochester Honkers for 11 innings Wednesday night but in the end it was the Honkers who came out with a 6-3 victory after a three-run home run in the bottom of the 11^th from Reid Roper at Mayo Field. The Rox (17-16, 36-32) and Honkers each scored a run apiece early and two more in the seventh but the Honkers finally broke through in extra innings off Rox reliever Will Craig (L, 0-3), who threw the 11^th inning after beginning the game as the designated hitter.

The scoring began with the Rox in the third inning when Eric Loxtercamp reached on a single and scored on a double to center field from Chris Paul. After Rochester tied the game in the fifth with their first run off Rox starter Nick Jensen-Clagg, the Rox took back the lead in the top of the seventh as Craig smacked a two-run home run to put St. Cloud ahead 3-1.

The Honkers answered right back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning as Jensen-Clagg was relieved after recording the first out of the seventh inning and allowing three hits and striking out six in the game. After reliever Nick Denny allowed a walk and a single, Kevin Burgee came in to try and halt the Honkers but eventually walked Alex Schultz with the bases loaded to bring in a run, and forced the next batter to hit in to a fielder’s choice which brought in the tying run.

Tyler Peitzmeier then threw two shutout innings of relief starting in the ninth before Craig entered the game on the mound in the 11^th, and retired the first two batters and walked the next two, setting the stage for Roper’s late-inning heroics as the Honkers picked up the 6-3 victory. Paul finished the night 3-for-5 for the Rox including his 16^th double of the season and Craig also tallied two hits as both teams totaled eight hits in the game.

Tonight’s box score can be found at http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=210727.

The Rox now return to Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud tomorrow night for their final home series of the season as the Thunder Bay Border Cats come to town, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Tomorrow night is Summertime St. Patty’s Night, where the first 500 fans 21 and older will receive a Rox pint glass, presented by Miller Lite, and fans are encouraged to wear green.

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

For more coverage of the Rox, visit www.sctimes.com.