Northwoods Baseball: Beetles win in walk off fashion

The Alexandria Beetles showed their resiliency on Monday night against the Rochester Honkers, fighting back from five runs behind to win the game 7-6.

The defending Northwoods League Champions got on the board early and often against Beetles starter Matt Evanoff (Cal) with five runs in the first five innings. The Honkers offensive charge was led by first-basemen Matt Dittman (Illinois). The left-handed hitting first baseman went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run and four RBI. Dittman was also walked three times.

The Beetles would not go away however as they put a four spot up in the bottom of the sixth inning and tied the score with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Graham Spencer (Meridian CC) broke a 0-for-19 skid with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Davis (Morehead St) snapped out of his own mini-slump going 3-for-4 on the day with a RBI.

In the bottom of the ninth it was Blair Roberts (Air Force) leading off with a single. Roberts then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Mitch Caster (Wichita State). Brandon Garcia (USC) came up with one out and lifted a fly ball into center field that was deep enough to score Roberts from third base and send the Beetles dugout to the field to mob Garcia.

Dan Lazzaroni (Ala-Huntsville) picked up the win in relief for the Beetles, tossing four innings out of the pen, his longest outing of the season.

"He wouldn't let us take him out" said Field Manager Scott Chisholm, "his arm felt good and he wanted to keep going out there."

The Beetles improve to 2-4 on the season and will have Shawn Riesgraf (SCSU) on the mound for game two against Rochester.

BOXSCORE

Courtesy: Matt Bishop/Alexandria Beetles