The Thunder Bay Border Cats raced out to an early 12-0 lead on Friday and went on to beat the Rochester Honkers 15-7 at Mayo Field.  The win improved the Cats record to 15-16, while the Honkers fell to 17-14.

Ayden Hadley (Sacramento State University) got the Cats offence going as he belted a three-run home run in the first inning and Thunder Bay erupted for six more runs in the second and three more runs in the top of the third. Hadley added a sacrifice fly as part of a two-run ninth inning to finish the night with four runs knocked in. Alex Kean (Morehead State University) collected four runs batted in, without the courtesy of a base hit, and Owen Ralph (Lindenwood University) reached base five times with an RBI single and four walks, while also scoring four times.  Dante Smith (North Dakota State University) went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored.

Kody Butt (Bellevue University) survived five innings to improve his record to 2-0.  The lefthander from St. John’s, NL., struck out six and surrendered seven runs on eight hits over five innings.  George Hansen (Oakland University) shut down the Honkers the rest of the way as the southpaw from Superior, WI., tossed four innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit, with four strikeouts for his first save of the season.

The Cats conclude their four-game road trip Saturday in Rochester at 7:35pm ET.  Mason Kosowick (University of Georgia) will make his first start of 2026 for Thunder Bay following the Bulldogs appearance at the College World Series in Omaha, NE.