Jun. 25—WILLMAR — The Willmar Stingers managed to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth. But the Rochester Honkers were able to escape the jam and leave Bill Taunton Stadium a 6-5 winner in Northwoods League play Thursday.
With the loss, Willmar dropped its fourth straight game.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, Willmar’s Reid Homan connected with an RBI single to make it a one-run game and keep the threat alive. Rochester reliever Jay Thompson was able to bear down and strike out TJ Curd for his second save of the year.
Brant Alazaus, a junior from Walsh University (Ohio), tossed the first six innings for the Honkers (9-12), striking out three and limiting Willmar to three runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks. Rochester’s top hitter was the No. 9 hitter Jack Colette. The San Jose State redshirt sophomore went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Carter Howell, Homan and Brady Counsell each had two hits for the Stingers (11-14). Counsell, a University of Minnesota recruit who wrapped up his high-school career in Milwaukee, went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Homan, a junior from North Alabama, was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Dennis Boatman, a redshirt freshman from Sacramento City College, took his first loss of the season. He allowed five runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings.
The Stingers and Honkers will match up again at 7:05 p.m. Friday back at Taunton Stadium.
Rochester 6,
Willmar 5
Rochester 210 210 000-6 8 3
Willmar 002 001 011-5 8 1
Hitting — Rochester: Alex Pimentel 1-4 2b r rbi sf, Zach Raabe 2-5 2b r rbi-2 sb, Mighel Ortiz 1-2 r-2 rbi bb-2, Eric Rataczak 1-3 r hbp, Jack Colette 3-4 rbi, Mac Horvath 0-5 rbi, J.J. Cruz 0-2 r bb hbp … Willmar: Carter Howell 2-5 2b r, Jakob Newton 1-4 rbi bb, William Hamiter 1-5 r, Reid Homan 2-3 2b r rbi-2 hbp-2, Brady Counsell 2-4 r-2, Grant Kerry 0-4 rbi
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Rochester: Brant Alazaus (W, 2-1) 6-5-3-1-0-3, Matthew Maldonado 1 1/3-0-1-0-2-1, Jay Thompson (Sv, 2) 1 2/3-3-1-1-0-2 … Willmar: Dennis Boatman (L, 3-1) 4-6-5-5-3-4, Cruz Barrios 2-1-1-1-0-4, Chandler Freeman 2-1-0-0-0-2, Jacob Webb 1-0-0-0-0-2