Honkers Drop Third Straight as Offense Stays Cold

DULUTH, Minn. -- Through five the Honkers had a 2-1 lead but the bullpen faltered after Isaac Friesen left after six strong innings in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Duluth Huskies.

The offense failed to score more than two runs for the fifth game in a row as their losing streak reached three games.

Friesen was the bright spot as he went six innings, giving up two runs one earned on five hits while striking out three and walking two.

In the top of the fourth, Ryan Fitzpatrick knocked a solo shot to lead-off the inning for his third home run of the year to give the Honkers a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth the Honkers were able to add one more, when Kyle Kasser knocked in Josh Hauser to give his team a 2-0 lead.

That lead was short lived as the Honkers gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning when Brendan McClary scored on Kyle Kasser's error, to make the score 2-1 then in the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies scored one more on Brendan McClary's RBI double to tie the game at two.

Bayley Chesterton then came in to pitch the seventh and threw a scoreless inning but in the eighth he earned the loss giving up three runs. All three runs were scored on one swing when Austin Bernard hit a three-run home run to give his team a 5-2 lead.

On the other side, the Huskies bullpen was lights out. After Riley Gates went five innings giving up two runs, Ian Schwikert, Wade Regas, and Quentin Longrie combined for four perfect innings striking out two batters as Regas (2-1) got he win for his scoreless eighth, and Longrie was given the save his fifth of the year.

The Honkers play the Huskies again tomorrow night at 6:35 at Wade Stadium.