Honkers Get Sweep in Thunder Bay; Defeat Border Cats 4-1
July 20, 2014 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester, Minn.)- After a 17-run contest the night before, the Honkers and Border Cats both struggled to find runs Sunday. But the Honkers were the ones that broke through late, earning them the win, 4-1.
The Border Cats opened the scoring off Honkers All-Star lefty Matt Kent (Texas A&M) in the second inning. A lead off single and a throwing error put Tyler Rolland (Southern Illinois) on second base. Reaching third on a groundout to Honkers first baseman Blaise Lezynski (Notre Dame), Rolland scored on a sacrifice fly from Nick Studer (Doane College).
But after that, both Kent and Border Cats starter Gunnar Kay (Dallas Baptist) were hard to handle and the game stayed 1-0 in Thunder Bay's favor.
The Honkers threatened to score off of Kay, loading the bases in the sixth inning with two outs after three walks from Kay. The Border Cats went to their bullpen to help escape the bases loaded jam, calling on reliever Tyler McKee to record the inning's final out. McKee got Jordan Smith (Minnesota) to ground to the shortstop though, maintaining Thunder Bay's 1-0 lead.
Blaise Lezynski made up for the Honkers' missed chance in the sixth by knocking a solo home run over the right field fence off McKee to tie the game in the seventh.
Will Bamesberger (Creighton) started the seventh in relief of Kent who finished the evening allowing one run, unearned, on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts giving him a total of 52 this season which leads the Northwoods League.
In the ninth, Smith led the inning off with a walk followed by a single from Lezynski. So with no outs, catcher Parker Guinn (Washington) hit a go-ahead single to left field, giving the Honkers the 2-1 lead late in the game. Connor Schaefbauer (Minnesota) singled in the Honkers' third run and Corey Hassel's (Oklahoma State) sacrifice fly brought home the fourth and the Honkers took a three-run lead to the bottom of the ninth.
Spencer Greer, who began the eighth inning, started the ninth looking to lock down the win for Rochester and his own fourth win this season. He would do so pitching around a couple of two-out singles, but the Honkers won the game, 4-1, and swept the Border Cats in their two-game series in Thunder Bay.
The Honkers get to take few days rest for the All-Star break. The 2014 Northwoods League All-Star Game is on Tuesday with Honkers Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) and Matt Kent representing Rochester. The Honkers are home next on Thursday as they host the Battle Creek Bombers at 7:05 p.m. Ticket information can be found at rochesterhonkers.com.
Northwoods League Stories from July 20, 2014
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- Mallards Fall Tonight in Kenosha - Madison Mallards
- Kingfish Win 9-5, Sweep Mallards Series - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rats Roll over 'Chucks 10-3 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Stingers Stay Hot, Take Three of Four from Express - Willmar Stingers
- Bullfrogs Erupt for Thirtheen, Defeat Rox 13-3 - Green Bay Rockers
- Big Inning Haunts Woodchucks Again - Wausau Woodchucks
- Growlers Rout Rival Bombers, Take Win Streak to Four - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Honkers Get Sweep in Thunder Bay; Defeat Border Cats 4-1 - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Square off against Kingfish Tonight in Kenosha - Madison Mallards
- Road Trip Concludes with Matchup against St. Cloud - Green Bay Rockers
- Anchors Tame Huskies - Alexandria Blue Anchors
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