Honkers Fall to Express in Ninth Inning

Rochester, MN (rochesterhonkers.com) – Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) hit his second home run of the game to tie the game in the top of the ninth and Rudy Rott (Ohio) doubled home the winning run as the Honkers fell to the Express 8-7 Wednesday.

Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge) doubled home Keaton Weisz (Auburn) and Miles Lewis (North Dakota) to start the scoring for the Honkers. The two-run double gave the Honkers a 2-1 lead after one inning of play.

Christopher Scalisi (Redlands) kept the doubles theme going, as he hit a two-run double in the bottom of the second to push the Honkers lead to 4-1. Lewis got an RBI on a fielder’s choice to give the Honkers a 5-1 lead.

Varsho hit a two-run home for the Express in the top of the third to cut the lead to 5-3 in favor of the Honkers, but the Honkers added another two runs in the bottom of the third.

The Honkers took a 7-3 lead in the top of the third after Lucas Lorenz (Northern State) singled home two runs, but Eau Claire cut the lead to one in the fourth after scoring three runs.

The Honkers knocked out the Express starter, Brody Rodning (Minnesota State, Mankato) after 2.1 innings, but they couldn’t solve Austin Schulfer (1-0) (Milwaukee) who got the win for Eau Claire. He went 5.2 innings, struck out 10 and gave up only two hits. Dylan Smith (Weatherford College) picked up his first save of the season.

Spencer Johnson (Wayne State) started for the Honkers, going five innings and allowed six runs. Tanner Schumacher (Purdue) earned the lost after pitching the ninth, he giving up two runs.

Varsho went 4 for 5 with four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Express, while Bryce Marquardt (Bethel University) led the Honkers by going 3 for 4 with one run scored.

The Honkers are back in action tonight as they battle the Mankato Moondogs at Mayo Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.