Honkers Get Swept by Stingers in Double Header

WILLMAR, Minn. -- The Honkers (6-10, 13-38) had a chance to gain ground on one of the top teams in the North Division but those hopes were quickly dashed as they lost both parts of their double header with Willmar (10-6, 28-24) 10-1 and 6-0.

With the losses, the Honkers dropped four games behind the Stingers and four and a half behind division leading St. Cloud.

Between the two games the Honkers only got four hits with their lone run coming in the first inning of game one when Turner Buis scored on Drew Ellis' single. After that inning the Honkers were scoreless for 13 straight as the games only lasted seven innings.

In the first game, starter Erik Cha allowed two runs in his one and only inning as his 37 pitches forced Manager Trevor Hairgrove to remove him due to league rules.

After that, Brett Herber went four innings giving up three runs. He gave up two in the fourth, first on a brandon Perez double, and the second on Danny Pardo sacrifice fly, then he gave up one more in the fifth, when Justin Toerner scoring on a double play to make the score 5-1.

In the sixth, newcomer Lance Berringer came in for Herber and quickly gave up a five spot on four straight RBI hits to give the Stingers a 10-1 lead.

Erik Cha got the loss (0-5), and Brad Schaenzer (1-1) got the win for his "complete game" seven inning outing allowing one run on four hits while walking only one and striking out four.

The Honkers pitching was slightly better in the second game but their offense was completely silent as mentioned earlier.

Stingers starter Jayce Vancena (5-1) went the distance only allowing three hits, walking none, and striking out five to lead his team to the double header sweep.

David Worrell had a solid start going four innings and giving up four but with the offense silent it wasn't enough.

Worrell gave up a Greg Lambert RBI double in the first, then, in the fourth, gave up a solo shot to Eddie Estrada, and a two-run single to Dylan Woods, to exit before the fifth inning with the score 4-0.

Stevie Ledesma then came in and gave up runs for the third straight outing, this time giving up two, Luke Becker's RBI double to make the score 6-0.

Sam Bjornjeld was the only pitcher to not give up a run for the Honkers as he pitched a scoreless sixth giving up only one hit.

The Honkers play on the road again tonight, before coming home for four straight, as the take the field at 7:05 against the Waterloo Bucks.