Northwoods Rochester Honkers

Kent Flirts with Perfection in Win

Published on August 5, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release


(Rochester,MN)-- Matt Kent (Texas A&M) took a perfect game into the seventh inning as he retired the first 18 batters he faced in a 14-1 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Monday, August 5, at Subway Field in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Parker Sullivan (Minnesota State-Mankato) drew a one-out walk in the top of the third inning and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single from Caleb Dugas (Copiah-Lincoln Community College) to give the Honkers an early 1-0 lead.

Rochester busted the game open in the top of the sixth inning with seven runs in the inning. Tyler Baker (Wichita State) picked up two hits in the inning, including a two-run double with two outs in the inning. Six of the seven runs in the inning came with two outs.

Matt Halloran (Minnesota) led off the top of the seventh inning with a ground-rule double for the Honkers. Mike Friel (Hofstra) was hit by a pitch and Jared Deacon (Cal State Fullerton) singled to load the bases. Kalei Hanawahine (Hawaii) cleared the bases with a double. Hanawahine came around to score on a single from Max Murphy (Bradley) and Baker picked up a RBI single later in the inning to score Dugas and increase the lead to 13-0.

While the Honkers were piling on the runs and adding to their lead, Kent waited in the dugout to continue his masterpiece. Ty Stetson ended Kent's perfect game bid with a single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning. Stetson would later score on a two-out single from Jason Vosler.

Rochester added a run in the top of the eighth inning when Friel was hit by a pitch to start the inning, advanced to third base on a double from Deacon, and scored on a RBI ground out from Sullivan.

Kent earned the win (5-3) as he allowed one run on just two hits in eight innings. He struck out 11, did not walk a batter, and threw just 86 pitches on the night. Chris Kerwood took the loss (4-6) for the Border Cats. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work. Alex Tenorio (Menlo College) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Honkers.

Deacon led Rochester's offense with a 4-for-5 effort on the night. He doubled, scored twice, and drove in a run. Baker went 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI, while Hanawahine, Dugas, Halloran, and Murphy each collected multiple hits on the night. Every player in the Honkers lineup picked up a hit in the win and Sullivan scored three times while driving in a pair of runs out of the No. 9 spot of the order.

Rochester (8-21, 26-38) has concluded its final road trip of the season and will now return home for a six-game home stand to wrap up the regular season. The homestand begins on Tuesday, August 6, at 7:05 p.m. against the Battle Creek Bombers. Tyler Eppler (Sam Houston State) is slated to make the start for the Honkers. After a two-game series with Battle Creek, the Honkers will host the Lakeshore Chinooks and the Duluth Huskies for a pair of games each.

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