Three Home Runs Lead Honkers Past Growlers

(Rochester, Minn) – The Rochester Honkers got three, two-run home runs from Ryan Fitzpatrick (Saddle Back College), Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) and Josh Davis (Pepperdine) to defeat the Kalamazoo Growlers 9-8 at Mayo Field Thursday night to win their fourth game in a row.

The Growlers scored five runs in the second inning, but the Honkers came right back with a four spot in the bottom of the third. They got two of them on Fitzpatrick’s two run shot, and another two on Fitchett’s two-run blast. The home runs made the score 6-5 after three innings of play.

The Growlers then scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings to bring their lead to 8-5. In the fourth Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana) hit an RBI single, and in the fifth David Hensley (San Diego State) hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-5.

The Honkers then put up four runs in the sixth, and it started with Davis’ two-run home run early in the inning. Turner Buis (Cal State Fullerton), who extended his hitting streak to 19 games, got an RBI on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 8. Fitzpatrick then hit a RBI single to score Miles Lewis (North Dakota) to give the Honkers a 9-8 lead.

Brett Herber (1-0) (Winona State) pitched the final four innings in relief to get his first win of the season; he allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two. Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) got the start for the Honkers; he pitched five innings, allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, on 10 hits and walked two.

Trey Ganns (Northern Kentucky) got the start for the Growlers; he went five innings, allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five. Grant Schneider (0-2) (Arizona State) took the loss for the Growlers; he went three innings, allowed two runs on three hits, walked four and struck out three.

Fitzpatrick led the Honkers by going 3 for 5 with three RBI and a run scored, while Lewis went 2 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored.

Dan Robinson (Central Michigan) went 3 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the Growlers, while Hensley went 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored.

The Honkers move to 4-5 in the second half and 11-33 overall, while the Growlers fell to 4-5 in the second half and 24-21 overall.

The Honkers finish out their home stand tomorrow night against the same Growlers team on Scout Night! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6! The Honkers will then travel to St. Cloud to battle the Rox on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s first pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. The Honkers will then hit the All-Star Break! Turner Buis and Alex Fitchett are headed to Kenosha, Wis! Buis will play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, while Fitchett will hit in the Home Run Derby at the Harbor on Monday night.