Honkers Split Series in St. Cloud

(Rochester, Minn.) – Max Gamboa (Pepperdine) threw five scoreless innings and struck out a season-high four to get the Honkers Split Series in St. Cloud Gamboa (1-0) allowed two hits and no runs to earn his first win of the season.

The Honkers scored first in the third inning and never looked back. Drew Ellis (Louisville) walked with the bases loaded to score Kyle Kasser (Oregon), and then Turner Buis (Cal State Fullerton) scored on a wild pitch to give the Honkers a 2-0 lead after three innings.

In the fourth, Keaton Weisz (Auburn) stole home to give the Honkers a 3-0 lead. Ryan Fitzpatrick led the fifth off with a single, which was followed by a Ellis double, and then Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) was hit by a pitch. Josh Davis (Pepperdine) then hit a sacrifice fly to score Fitzpatrick to give the Honkers a 4-0 lead.

The Honkers continued to score in the fifth, as Brett Harrison (North Dakota) hit a single to score two runs, and collected one RBI.

The Rox got on the board in the seventh, as Webb Bobo (Southeastern Louisiana) scored on a Honkers’ error. Then, Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) hit an RBI double that scored two runs, and then Michael Sterm (Boston College) hit an RBI single that made the score 6-4 in the Honkers favor.

The Rox were not able to get anything going, as Alex Fagalde (UC Riverside) was able to shut them down for the final 2 2/3 innings. Fagalde allowed one hit and struck out four to earn his first save of the season.

Fitzpatrick, Ellis and Weisz each recorded multiple hits and a run scored to lead the Honkers’ offense. Ramirez went 1 for 1 with two RBI, a run scored and one walk to lead the Rox.

Matt Goytia (0-1) (Mt. San Antonio College) got the start and the loss for the Rox; he threw 2.2 innings, allowed two runs on no hits and walked four. Austin Briggs (McNeese State) threw 1.1 innings, allowed four runs, two of them earned, on three hits and walked two.

The Honkers move to 5-7 in the second half and 12-35 overall with the win, while the Rox fall to 6-4 in the second half and 30-15 overall.

The Honkers have hit the All-Star Break! Turner Buis and Alex Fitchett are headed to Kenosha, Wis. as Buis will play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, while Fitchett will hit in the Home Run Derby at the Harbor on Monday night. The Honkers return to play Thursday in Thunder Bay to take on the Border Cats, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The Honkers next home game is Tuesday, July 26 as the La Crosse Loggers come to town. It is TV Tuesday on the 26th presented by Sam’s Club, where one lucky fan will have the chance to win a 40” TV!