Huskies Sweep Eau Claire
The Duluth Huskies scored four unanswered runs to top Eau Claire 8-7 on Sunday, culminating in a walk-off hit by Augie Isaacson with two outs in the ninth inning.
Eau Claire struck first with a run in the top of the second before the Huskies took the lead in the home half when Chris Gilbody drove in two with his first Northwoods League hit. John Lagattuta picked up his first career RBI an inning later to give Duluth a two-run lead. The Express would tie the game with one out in the fifth when Nic Ready blasted a two-run homerun over the left field fence. General MacArthur drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth, then stole second base and reached third on an error. Cade Edwards singled to score MacArthur, giving Duluth a 4-3 lead. Eau Claire would erupt for four runs on five hits against the Duluth bullpen in the top of the seventh but the Huskies would get one back in the home half when MacArthur doubled, scoring Ben McClain.
The 7-5 score held until the bottom of the ninth. Omar Veloz led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. Following a flyout, MacArthur singled to put runners on first and second. Edwards recorded his third hit of the game a batter later to load the bases. A strikeout would bring Augie Isaacson to the plate with two outs and the veteran ripped a screaming line drive into the right field corner, clearing the bases for a walkoff victory.
Colan Treml (1-0) was the winning pitcher as Colton Hale (0-1) took the loss. Hayden Shenefield started the game for the Huskies and worked six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. Lagattuta and Edwards each lead the team with three hits while Isaacson stole two bases and drove in three runs. Ready highlighted the Eau Claire offense, finishing 5-5 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.
Duluth has now won consecutive for the first time this season, despite stranding 11 runners in scoring position. The Huskies improve to 3-3 while Eau Claire’s losing streak grows to five straight games, dropping the Express to 1-5 on the season. The Huskies are back in action on Monday, June 4, as they host the defending Northwoods League champion St. Cloud Rox for Education Day at Wade Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 am.
(Photo by Terry Cartie Norton)
###
The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.
