Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Honkers Pick up Split Against Beetles

June 19, 2011 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


(Rochester, MN) -- The Rochester Honkers had their third doubleheader due to suspended games today against the Alexandria Beetles at Mayo Field. The Honkers dropped the first game 12-5, and bounced back to topple the Beetles 8-2 in game two, picking up a split in the two game series. Scott Thornburg (Jr, Creighton) had a great day at the plate, going 4-for-7, with four runs scored, five RBI, and two home runs.

The Honkers had a lot of momentum in game one before lightning caused the suspension. Seemingly loosing all of that momentum overnight, carrying none to the resumption on Sunday afternoon. The Beetles came out like a whole new team today, after letting the Honkers bats cool off over night.

Eric Mattingly (Jr, Creighton) got the start after the suspension of the game, pitching innings three and four, allowing one hit and two runs. Robert Hansen (Fr, Vanderbilt) was credited with the loss, pitching 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on three hits. It was the first poor outing for Hansen in a few games, after having three good relief appearances lately, two in this homestand. Hansen left the game with an apparent finger injury, yielding to Nick Dolsky (So, Nebraska) out of the bullpen. Dolsky pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three runs, with Bryan Karraker (Jr, New Mexico State) pitching an inning in relief after.

The Honkers bats were silenced for most of the continuation until the eighth inning when Thornburg homered for the first time on the day to lead off the inning. Ryan Hambright (So, Oregon) followed that up with a double to right field, and newcomer Aaron Jones (Fr, Oregon) drove Hambright in with a single to center, Hambright had two hits in game one.

The Honkers big eighth inning was not enough to overcome the Beetles rally, dropping game one, 12-5. The two teams would regroup and start game two, a seven inning game, a half hour later.

Alex Alemann (So, St. Louis University) started game two. It was his fourth start of the season and was 0-3 prior to this game. Alemann finally got the run support he needed, seeing the Honkers bats out do the Beetles, winning 8-2. Alemann pitched six innings allowing two runs on seven hits, and striking out four. Damek Tomscha (So, Iowa Western) pitched one inning of relief to close out the game, allowing just one hit and striking out one.

The Honkers scored all of their runs in the first three innings, scoring three in the first, three in the second and two in the third. The second inning runs were a product of Thornburg's second homer of the day, this one a three run calamity for the Beetles.

Jake Marasco (RsSo, Kansas) and Devin Thaut (Jr, Southern Polytechnic) both went 2-for-3 in the second game, each with a double. Davy Wright (So, TCU) also doubled for his lone hit of the ball game, adding to his Northwoods League lead with 10 doubles on the season.

The Honkers will carry the momentum from this win to St. Cloud tomorrow for three games against the River Bats, and the three more against the Duluth Huskies in Duluth. The Honkers have Bryce Rippentrop (So, Dakota County Tech) on the mound tomorrow against the River Bats. The Honkers will return home Sunday, June 26, to take on the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, in a two game series. First pitch for both games is 1:05 pm, leading into the first day off of the season, on June 28.



Northwoods League Stories from June 19, 2011


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