WILLMAR — Ben Lahn hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to snap a tie and lift the Rochester Honkers past the Waterloo Bucks 7-5 in Northwoods League baseball on Thursday.
The Honkers entered the ninth inning trailing 5-4, but the Honkers blasted a pair of home runs to rally for the victory. Chad Wallach tied the game with a solo home run. Two batters later Lahn delivered another long ball to provide the difference in the game.
Waterloo was in control early. The host Bucks scored twice in the first and once in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
Honkers starter Chris Noble pitched the first seven innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks. Noble struck out three.
The Honkers trailed 3-0 going into the top of the seventh inning before scoring three times to tie the score. Wallach, who finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, had the big hit with a two-run double.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rochester took the lead 4-3 in the eighth on an RBI single by shortstop Michael Lukkason to plate Lahn. Lahn went 2-for-3 with two runs and two and RBIs.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bucks scored two runs on a two-run double by third baseman Connor McClain to take a 5-4 lead.
That set the stage for the home runs from Wallach and Lahn as the Honkers snapped their three-game losing streak.
Dakota Smith picked up his first win of the season in relief.
Left fielder Justin Parr went 3-for-5 for the Honkers.
The Honkers (10-16 second half, 25-36 overall) and Bucks (12-14, 31-30) play in Waterloo today at 6:35 p.m. Dylan Nelson (1-3, 2.96 ERA) will start on the mound for the Honkers against Waterloo's Mikey Ramirez (1-6, 6.32).
