Honkers Drop Second Game of Double Header 3-1

MANKATO, Minn. -- In the second game of their two-city double header, the Honkers (11-14, 18-42) got another good start, but they were shut down by Mankato MoonDogs (16-8, 38-21) starter Ricky Digrugilliers (W, 6-2) in a 3-1 loss.

Backed by Jordan Washam and David Metzgar offensively, Digrugilliers got his third win versus the Honkers this season, allowing his first and only run to the team in his 21 innings between the three starts. Digrugilliers pitched a complete game  allowing the one run on four hits while walking one and striking out four, improving his record to 6-2 and dropping his ERA to 1.94 on the season, good enough for fifth in the Northwoods League and second in the North Division.

The Honkers got a good start once again, this time from Cameron Aufderheide (L, 1-1) as he went seven innings, his fiive of his first six scoreless, before allowing two of his three runs in his seventh and final inning.

Offensively the Honkers struggled to score once again, being held to under three runs for the fourth game in a row. Since their 15-12 win on July 22, in Thunder Bay, the Honkers have failed to score four runs eight out of 11 times, after a 14 game stretch to start the second half scoring 6.7 runs per game.

They scored their only run in the first on Drew Ellis' groundout, but they were unable to score again, getting only two more hits after a two hit first inning.

The MoonDogs tied the game up in the bottom of the second when Jordan Washam led-off the inning with his third home run of the season making the score 1-1.

The team than traded zeroes till the seventh when David Metzgar's two-run single proved to be the difference in a 3-1 game.

The Honkers look to bounce back on their chase for a .500 record in the second half, as they play the first of two against the Duluth Huskies (6-18, 24-26), tonight at 6:35 at Wade Stadium In Duluth.