Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Honkers Pick up First Victory on Lukkason's Walkoff

June 1, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


(Rochester, MN) - The Rochester Honkers picked up their first win of the 2012 Northwoods League season on Friday night in front of 828 fans at Mayo Field on a walk-off solo homerun from shortstop Michael Lukkason (Dakota Wesleyan) in the bottom of the tenth inning.

The Lukkason homer was his first of the season and second hit of the game.

Rochester first baseman Trevor Podratz (Hawaii) hit a long solo home run to left-center field to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth and send it to extra innings.

Matt Kent (Texas A&M) was very effective in his first start of the season for the home team, throwing eight full innings of one-run baseball. Kent scattered five Border Cat hits and struck out nine, including five in his first two innings of work.

After giving up a first-inning Thunder Bay run, Kent cruised along for the next seven innings without much trouble.

Catcher Matt Halloran (Minnesota) went 2 for 4, including a go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the eighth scoring Lukkason to give the Honkers a 2-1 lead. Halloran also tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with a run-scoring single to plate second baseman Justin Protacio (Kansas).

Reid Roper (Illinois) came on to pitch the ninth in relief of Kent and surrendered the one-run Honker lead after walking two batters and giving up a run-scoring single to Thunder Bay leftfielder Scott Donley (Indiana). The Thunder Cats would then take the lead on a bases loaded fielder's choice from rightfielder Kurtis McCallum (Mayville State).

Despite giving up the Honker lead in the top of the ninth inning, Roper was tagged with the victory to run his record to 1-0. Roper pitched the final two innings for Rochester, giving up two runs on one hit and two walks. Thunder Bay reliever Tony Viger (Augustana College) was given the loss to send his record to 0-1.

The game winner from Lukkason earned himself the Northwoods League Player of the Night honor, and Kent was chosen as the Pitcher of the Night for his brilliant effort.

The Honkers will play Thunder Bay again tomorrow at 7:05 PM at their place, Mayo Field.



Northwoods League Stories from June 1, 2012


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