Express Stomp Honkers 10-4

(Rochester, Minn.) – The Eau Claire Express scored six runs in the fourth inning to down the Rochester Honkers 10-4 at Mayo Field Wednesday afternoon.

The Express got on the board in the third, when Rudy Rott (Ohio University) got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving Eau Claire a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Express used small ball to get runs in, including RBI singles from Ben Mezzenga (Minnesota), Zach Ashford (Fresno State) and Erick Migueles (New Mexico). At the end of the frame, the Express were leading 7-0.

The Express scored runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth, when Sam Hurt (Kent State) hit a solo home run, pushing the Eau Claire lead to 10-0.

The Honkers got on the board in the ninth; Jacob Thomas (UC Davis) hit a sacrifice fly, and Casey Worden (UC Riverside) hit a three run home run, making the score 10-4.

Spencer Johnson (1-1) (Wayne State) got the start and the loss for the Honkers; he pitched four innings, allowed seven runs on seven hits and walked four. Robert Paccione (LIU, Post), Jackson Rose (Barton CC), Sam Bjorngjeld (Tulane) and Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) each threw out of the bullpen, and allowed a combined three runs in the final five innings.

Aaron Shortridge (4-0) (California) got the start and the win for the Express; he pitched seven innings, allowed no runs, four hits, walked two and struck out eight.

Casey Worden paced the Honkers offense, as he went 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored, while Ripkin Reyes (California) went 2 for 3 with four runs scored, one RBI and two walks to lead the Express.

The Honkers will head to Michigan to take on Battle Creek Thursday and Friday, both games start at 6:05 p.m. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, the Honkers will be in Kalamazoo to take on the Growlers. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. and Sunday’s is set for 2:05 p.m. Rochester will be back at Mayo Field on Monday to take on the Thunder Bay Border Cats. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m, and gates open at 6:00! The promotion for Monday is FLY RST NIGHT with ABC 6 News! A travel voucher valued at $400.00 will be given away!