Honkers win streak ends at three
June 4, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester, MN) - Walks were an issue as the Honkers failed to keep their win streak alive on Monday, falling 9-5 in the series opener with the Willmar Stingers.
The win was the first of the season for Willmar.
Honkers starter Drew Merlo (Fresno City CC) struggled to find the strike zone in his 3.1 innings of work, walking seven Stinger batters and surrendering five runs (three earned) to pick up the loss. Merlo's record falls to 0-1 in what was his first start of the 2012 season.
The Honkers jumped out on top early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch to plate Dakota Smith (Kansas), and a run scoring fielder's choice off the bat of Ben Lahn (Lamar CC) to score Matt Halloran (Minnesota).
The Honkers would only plate two more runs in the game, one of them a Ben Lahn opposite field solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. Lahn finished the game 2 for 5 with that home run and two RBIs. The long ball was Lahn's team-leading third of the season.
Willmar starting pitcher Jerad McCrummen (Texas Tech) got into trouble in the first, but was able to settle down and pitch effectively for the next three frames giving up three total runs on five hits.
The victory for Willmar was given to relief pitcher Jacob Cage (Azusa Pacific) after three innings of one-run baseball.
Right handed reliever Adam Giacalone (Neosho County CC) was solid in three innings of work. Giacalone gave up just one run on one hit and two strikeouts.
Honkers center fielder Dakota Smith (Kansea) went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Honkers and Stingers will play tomorrow night at 7:05 PM at Mayo Field for the second and final game of the series. The Honkers will send Chris Noble (Pikeville), who is 0-1, to the mound to oppose Stingers starter Scott Lieser (St. Cloud State), who also holds a record of 0-1 and a 7.20 ERA.
• Discuss this story on the Northwoods League message board...
Northwoods League Stories from June 4, 2012
- Five-Run Fourth Propels Stingers to First Victory, 9-5 - Willmar Stingers
- Mallards Lose 4-3 in 11 Innings against Rafters, Suffer First Home Setback - Madison Mallards
- Bucks Streak Hits Six with Win over Rox - St. Cloud Rox
- Woodchucks Win in Walk off Fashion over La Crosse Loggers - Wausau Woodchucks
- Honkers win streak ends at three - Rochester Honkers
- Bullfrogs top Bombers in Extras - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Lakeshore Chinooks Lose Home Opener 2-1 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Bucks Sign Gunner Johnson to Temporary Contract - Waterloo Bucks
- Beetles Fall for Third Straight Time - Alexandria Beetles
- Duluth Huskies Game on as Scheduled - Duluth Huskies
- McClain Named Young Plumbing and Heating Player of the Week - Waterloo Bucks
- Mallards Return to "Duck Pond" to Take on Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Sale, Smyly and Calhoun on Short List from 2010 Draft - Northwoods
- Inaugural Pondamonium Scheduled for August 9, 2012 at the Warner Park "Duck Pond" - Madison Mallards
- Rox Win Behind Arm of Schaak - St. Cloud Rox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
