Honkers Walk-Off to 6-5 Win Versus the Loggers

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- After three errors in the eighth caused the Honkers (8-11, 15-29) to blow a two run lead and a chance at a victory for Robert Paccione, the offense made up for it in the tenth as Alex Fitchett's two-out single to right drove in Josh Davis giving the Honkers a 6-5 win against the La Crosse Loggers (8-9, 25-28) their eighth, or a win better then their first half total.

The Honkers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. After Jackson Thoreson and Alex Fitchett hit back to back singles, Alex Fitchett struck out, but Jacob Thomas hit a 3-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run home run.

However the Loggers responded quickly in the top of the third, as Cullen Large drove in Mason McCoy to make the score 3-1, then Grant Ferrell hit a two-run home run to knot it up at three.

After that inning, Honkers starter Robert Paccione held the Loggers scoreless the next four innings.

On the night, Paccione went seven innings giving up three earned runs on six hits, two walks, while striking out five.

The Honkers gave Paccione a chance to win by scoring two in the fifth to make the score 5-3. The first run was score by Kyle Kasser when he scored on Joey Czarske's RBI groundout. Following the out, Jackson Thoreson reached on an E4 that allowed Turner Buis to score giving the Honkers a 5-3 lead.

After Paccione left, Cameron Aufderheide came in to pitch the eighth and unfortunately gave up the lead as three errors cost the Honkers the lead.

Both runners that scored, Cullen Large, and Grant Fennell, were allowed to reach base due to errors by Keaton Weisz and Kyle Kasser. Then Fennel was able to score on another error to tie the game as Alex Fitchett muffed, Kyle Plantier's RBI single allowing Fennel to tie the game at five.

Things then came down to the ninth.

In the top half of the inning. Aufderheide retired the Loggers 1-2-3 giving his team a chance to walk-off in the ninth.

They missed that chance, literally, as Loggers reliever Casey Sherrod struck out two of four batters to send the game to extras.

After a 1-2-3 top of the tenth, the Honkers got what they needed to win.

Joey Czarske led off the inning with a walk. Miles Lewis then came in to pinch run for him. Lewis reached second on Thoresons sac bunt. Then Josh Davis lined a single up the middle that looked as if it could be the deciding hit. However Lars Nootbaar delivered a strike to home that cut down Lewis.

But the Honkers didn't put their heads down. On the play Davis advanced to second and that proved integral as Alex Fitchett was able to drive a ball past a diving Randy LaBault at first that allowed Davis to score for the walk-off 6-5 win.

The win went to Cameron Aufderheide (1-0), and the loss went to  Casey Sherrod (2-2).

The Honkers are at home for two more in a row, and one more over the next four days, as they play the first of two versus Thunder Bay (13-39) at 7:05 at Mayo Field.