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Published On: August 8th, 2019

Rochester, MN—The Stingers and Honkers split in today’s doubleheader. The Stingers took Game 1 by a score of 12-6 and the Honkers claimed Game 2 with a 4-1 final score. Monday’s (8/5) game between the two teams was postponed due to rain. The teams played two seven inning games for the last time this summer.

Game 1: 12-6 Willmar

The Stingers beat the Honkers to start the doubleheader by a score of 12-6. Both teams combined for eight home runs in the game. Garret Rukes (Alabama) started Game 1 for Willmar. He pitched five innings, allowed five hits, and gave up four earned runs. Rukes didn’t walk a Honkers’ batter while striking out six.

The Stingers scored nine runs in the top of the first inning. The charge was led by Sam Baier (Augustana) who had two home runs in the inning. 9-0 Stingers. The Honkers got a run back in the second with a home run of their own. 9-1 Stingers. Both teams hit a home run in the third. Baier hit his second of the day with no runners on. The Honkers answered with a two-run home run to bring the score to 10-3.

Riley Johnson (Augustana) joined the party when his two-run homerun in the fourth extended the Stingers’ lead to 12-3. The Honkers added on a run via a solo home run in the fifth. 12-4 Stingers. Kade Lancour (Ripon College) pitched the last two innings for Willmar. He gave up five hits and two earned runs against the Honkers. The final score was 12-6 in the Stingers’ win.

Game 2: 4-1 Honkers

The Stingers fell to the Honkers in the summer finale 4-1. Masen Palmier (Missouri Baptist) pitched on the mound for Willmar. He went 4.2 innings, allowed three hits, and gave up four runs. Palmier walked four batters and struck out five. Neither team scored in the first. In the second, a solo home run put the Honkers ahead 1-0.

The Stingers tied the game in the fifth when Brennan McKenzie (Pomona) hit an RBI double scoring Ryan Johnson (Pepperdine). 1-1 tied ballgame. Rochester regained the lead when they scored three runs, off one hit, and one Stingers’ error. 4-1 Honkers. Joel Cheatwood (Montevallo) pitched the last 1.1 scoreless innings for Willmar. He gave up one hit and struck out three. The Stingers were held scoreless for the rest of the game. The final score in Game 2 was 4-1 Honkers.