Honkers Get a Couple of Home Runs En Route to Win against Duluth
Published on July 3, 2014 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester, Minn.)- The Honkers won their first game of the second half thanks to a pair of home runs to beat the Huskies, 8-5, Thursday night at Mayo Field.
Spencer Greer (Western Nevada Community College) overcame a tough first inning to keep the Honkers in the ballgame in his five innings of work. In the inning, the first three Huskies reached base and leadoff man Trent Chatterton (UCLA) came around to score. Greer struck out the next two batters but relinquished a two-out, two-run single to Alex Michaels (Cal Poly) and the Huskies led early, 3-0.
After the first inning, Greer allowed no runs on just one hit, one walk and struck out six more batters in his final four innings of work - at one point, Greer set down nine Huskies in a row.
While Greer settled in, the Honkers were in their fifth-consecutive game where they trailed after three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) continued his torrid hitting streak by homering over the right field fence. The two-run home run brought the Honkers back within a run. It was Campbell's third home run of the season and 14th straight game with a hit, the longest in the Northwoods League this season.
The Honkers added two more in the bottom of the fifth inning after Jack Goihl (Augustana College) led off with a double. He scored on a throwing error by the shortstop Chatterton that also put Corey Hassel (Oklahoma State) on base with nobody out. Eventually, the Honkers loaded the bases for the hot-handed Campbell. He singled sharply to left field and the Honkers grabbed the lead, 4-3 - Campbell's third RBI of the game gave him a team-high 19 on the season.
But the Huskies quickly tied the game once more in the top half of the sixth inning off of reliever Max Weinstein (California, Irvine) and then pulled ahead in the seventh with Brandon Stennis (Doane College) on the mound. Stennis allowed two hits with two outs - a double and a run scoring single delivered by Vinnie Rodriguez (Montevallo) - and the Huskies once again led, 5-4.
Two one-out singles and a walk loaded the bases for Hassel with reliever Chris Myjak (Des Moines Area Community College) pitching and the Huskies called on right-handed reliever Kevin Folman (North Dakota State) to face Hassel. Hassel connected for a long home run over the left field fence. The go-ahead grand slam put the Honkers ahead by three runs, 8-5.
Campbell had a big game at the plate, but he also came on to pitch the eighth and lock down the ninth inning. Campbell earned the win and shut the door in the ninth to get the Honkers their first win of the second half.
Tomorrow the Honkers travel to Waterloo to play a doubleheader with the Bucks, the next installment of the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup. Seth Holbert (Sam Houston State) is slated to pitch the first game tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. The Honkers are home next on Saturday to host the Bucks for the finale of their three game series at 7:05 p.m. Ticket information can be found at rochesterhonkers.com.
Northwoods League Stories from July 3, 2014
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- Defense, Timely Hitting Lift Mallards over Growlers - Madison Mallards
- Honkers Get a Couple of Home Runs En Route to Win against Duluth - Rochester Honkers
- Growlers' Early Lead But Big Inning Spoils Game in 6-3 Defeat - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Kingfish Win 7-3, Sweep Rox - Kenosha Kingfish
- Bullfrogs Shut-Out Loggers in Game Two - Green Bay Rockers
- Craig's Home Run the Only Mark as Rox Fall to Kingfish - St. Cloud Rox
- Willmar Winds up on Losing End of Pitcher's Duel against Mankato - Willmar Stingers
- Woodchucks crack four homeruns, overpower Rafters, 12-7 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Anchors Flood Border Cats in Blowout Win - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Kingfish Raise the Guaranteed Win Stakes - Kenosha Kingfish
- Bucks Announce Independence Day Promotional Details - Waterloo Bucks
- Riverfront Stadium Parking Lot Is Open - Waterloo Bucks
- Growlers Red, White and Boom Night Has Arrived - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Mallards Set to Quiet Growlers Tonight at the "Duck Pond" - Madison Mallards
- Bullfrogs Look to Chop Down Loggers on Thursday - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Look to Turn Away Woodchucks at Witter Field - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Begin Second Half with Loss to Kenosha - St. Cloud Rox
- Kingfish Slam the Rox 14-3 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Mankato Outlasts Willmar in 2nd Half Opener - Willmar Stingers
- Kingfish General Manager Sent Overboard Following Win - Kenosha Kingfish
- Growlers Tamed by Mallards 8-1 in First Game to Start 2nd Half - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Honkers Drop the Second Half Opener, 8-7, to the Huskies - Rochester Honkers
- Missed Chances Loom Large in Loss - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
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