Tharp Leads Honkers to Win over Alexandria
Published on June 1, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester,MN) Outfielder Tucker Tharp (Kansas) led the Rochester Honkers to a 7-6 win over the Alexandria Blue Anchors Saturday night at Mayo Field in Rochester, MN. Tharp made a big impact in his first game as a Honker by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.
Tharp got things started for the Honkers in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out single to center field. Toby Thomas (Pensacola State,) the next batter, was hit by a pitch and the Honkers had two runners on. Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) walked to fill the bases for catcher Matt Halloran (Minnesota.) Halloran got the job done with a sacrifice fly to bring in Tharp. Tharp's run marked the third time in four games where the Honkers have scored in their half of the first inning.
Aaron Overbeck evened the score for the Blue Anchors with a two-out run-scoring double in the second inning. Rochester broke the tie in its half of the second inning when Kalei Hanawahine (Hawaii) drove a two-run triple to center field to score Steve Serratore (Des Moines Area Community College) and Mitch Anderson (Rochester Technical and Community College.) Hanawahine later scored on a single from Tharp to give the Honkers a 4-1 lead after two innings.
After Alexandria scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth, Andrew Mulato drove a two-run homerun over the right field fence to tie the game at 4-4 after three and a half innings. Just as they did in the second inning, the Honkers responded with three runs of their own. Serratore led off the inning by drawing a four pitch walk and Hanawahine reached on a hit by pitch with two outs and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch to set Tharp up with another RBI opportunity. Just as he did in the second inning, Tharp delivered. This time it was a two-run single to center field. He later stole second base-for the second time on the night-and scored on a single from Thomas to put Rochester ahead 7-4.
The three run lead was enough of a cushion for starter Mason Pingel, who settled down after allowing the homerun, and the Honkers bullpen. Pingel earned the win(1-0,) allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits in six innings while striking out two. Brian Schwarzbach (Pennsylvania) picked up his second save of the season. He recorded the final two outs after entering the game with a 7-5 lead and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.
The two teams will play the final game of the two game series Sunday June 2 at 1:05 p.m. at Mayo Field. Logan Spitzack (St. Cloud State) is slated to make his first start of the season for Rochester (3-1.)
Northwoods League Stories from June 1, 2013
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- Border Cats beat Stingers 7-4 - Thunder Bay Border Cats
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- Tharp Leads Honkers to Win over Alexandria - Rochester Honkers
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- St. Cloud Rox Defeat the Waterloo Bucks 5-1 Saturday - St. Cloud Rox
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