Home Runs Launch Honkers to Victory Over Stingers

(Rochester, Minn.) – Drew Ellis (Louisville) launched two home runs as the Rochester Honkers defeated the Willmar Stingers 11-9 at Mayo Field Monday night.

Drew Ellis gave the Honkers a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run, and then hit a three-run shot in the fifth to give the Honkers an 8-2 lead.

The Honkers jumped on the Stingers’ starter early, as Corey Binger (Nebraska Omaha) lasted five innings, allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, on seven hits, walked six and struck out one.

The Honkers were leading 3-0 after three innings of play, but the Stingers got on the board in the fourth. Luke Becker (Kentucky) launched a solo home run to cut the Honkers’ lead to two, and then the Stingers scored another run in the fifth.

The Honkers came back with five runs in the fifth, which including Ellis’ three-run home run. Joey Czarske (Cal State Northridge) added an RBI single in the inning, and Casey Worden (UC Riverside) added another RBI single.

Willmar got a run on a fielder’s choice in the sixth, and Czarske had another RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 9-3.

The Stingers scored four more runs in the eighth, and three of them came off of a Dylan Woods (Nova Southeastern) three-run home run, but the Honkers were able to respond with two runs of their own. They got one run on a Czarske RBI single and another on a Worden sacrifice fly to make the score 11-7 in the Honkers’ favor.

Willmar threatened again in the ninth, but only pushed two runs across as the Honkers went on to win 11-9.

Alex Fagalde (1-1) (UC Riverside) got the start and the win for the Honkers; he went 5.2 innings allowed three runs, one of them earned, on five hits, walked four and struck out five. Brett Herber (Winona State) worked 2.1 innings in relief; he allowed four runs, none of the earned, on two hits and walked two. Rickey Delgado (UC Riverside) finished the final inning; he allowed two runs on three hits.

Ellis led the Honkers’ offense by going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and four RBI, while Joey Czarske went 3 for 5 with four RBI and a run scored to help the offense move.

Becker went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI to lead the Stingers, while Woods went 2 for 5 with four RBI to help.

With the win, the Honkers advanced to 1-5 in the second half and 8-32 overall, while the Stingers fall to 4-2 in the second half and 22-20 overall.

The Honkers are back in action Wednesday as the Waterloo Bucks come to Rochester. The teams will finish the suspended game from July 5th, which was suspended with the Honkers leading 6-2 in the top of the fifth. That game will be resumed at 5:05 p.m. and gates will open at 4:00! After that game is completed, the teams will take a 30 minute break before playing another seven-inning game. Wednesday is Royalty Night! Come dressed as your favorite princess, prince or royalty and get a general admission ticket for free! Thursday, the Honkers will take on the Kalamazoo Growlers on Hawaiian Night! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00!