Honkers Split Series

The Honkers and Border Cats were at it again for another seven-inning contest Saturday night. The Honkers lost the nightcap 6-3 for a doubleheader split.

The Border Cats once again scored the first run of the game in the nightcap on Saturday.  A Jacob Robson walk came in to score on a base hit up the middle off the bat off of Robb Paller.

Thunder Bay got a pair more of runs in the second inning. Adam Collins singled with one out and was followed by Ty Blankmeyer. The bunt by Blankmeyer allowed him to reach, with both pitcher Egger and first baseman Campbell charging the ball with nobody covering first. Jordan Serena singled home Collins to make it 2-0 Thunder Bay. A stolen base and Blankmeyer on third Blankmeyer to score on a Robson sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Jordan Smith led off with a single down the left field line. Smith advanced to secondd on a stolen base while Ryne Roper was batting. A Ryne Roper double to right center that outfielder coming in on could not reach allowed Smith to take third. With two in scoring position, parker Guinn walked on four pitches to load the bases. Blaise Lezynski put the Honkers on the board with a sacrifice fly to score Smith and cut the deficit to 3-1. With Tanner Buenting up to bat, the Honkers pulled off a double steal with Ryne Roper and Paker Guinn to put two runners in scoring position once again. Buenting then grounded one to third and Ryne Roper ran into the out at home on a fielder’s choice.

Corey Hassel was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Schultz followed that with a walk for an RBI and the deficit was just 3-2.

Eli Egger cruised through the rest of his outing, going five innings while allowing three runs on six hits, walking three and striking out one.

The Honkers ran into more trouble in the sixth inning. The inning led off with an error by Ryne Roper at shortstop to allow Tyler Patterson to reach base. Patterson was erased a batter later on a fielders choice, but Adam Collins reached and socred on a double by Jordan Serena. Ty Blankmeyer, 2-2 with a sacrifice, was gunned down at the plate for the second out. After a walk, Robb Paller doubled to left to score two more  With the error to lead off the inning, reliever Brandon Nickolite was not charged with any runs. All three runs in the inning were unearned to make the score 6-2.

The Honkers offense did not have much of anything going on for the rest of the ballgame. Rochester rallied in the bottom of the seventh, with Reid Roper singling in Blaise Lezynski, but it was too little too late and the Honkers dropped game two by a final of 6-3.

The Honkers will look to take the rubber match of the series Sunday afternoon at Mayo Field. Brandon Stennis is scheduled to throw the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.