Honkers Lose In Willmar 10-9

(Rochester, Minn.) –  In a wild game, the Honkers couldn't find a way to come back for a second time as Willmar defeats Rochester, 10-9.

In a game that was certain to feature the strong arms of the Honkers’ Logan Spitzack (St. Cloud State) and the Stingers’ Andrew Towns (Walters State Community College), the two teams combined for 21 hits and seven errors.

Spitzack entered the game with a 1.66 ERA, but it swelled to 3.00 after three rough innings that saw the Stingers spring to a 7-1 lead.

Rochester chipped away at the six-run deficit in the fourth after scoring three runs on four hits. Ben Gullo (Eastern Kentucky) relieved Towns in the sixth and tried to maintain his scoreless streak to begin his season. In his 7.2 innings prior to Saturday’s game, Gullo hadn’t allowed a run. But in the sixth inning, the Honkers scorched him for five runs to regain the lead.

Casey Fletcher (Illinois) drove in two runs on a double with one out to start the scoring in the inning. And after an Alex Schultz (Nebraska Omaha) walk, Connor Schaefbauer (Minnesota) hit a two-run double. The Honkers chased Gullo from the game as he was unable to record a third out, and Will Lydon (Pacific) came on. Lydon recorded the inning’s final out with Rochester leading, 9-7.

That wouldn't hold though as Stingers hit a two run homer to tie the game in sixth and added another run in the 8th to gain the 10-9 victory.

The two teams meet again today in Willmar for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. The Honkers come home Monday to play their third game in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup against the Waterloo Bucks; the game is set for 1:05 p.m.

(courtesy: Andy Sroka rochesterhonkers.com)