Max Stapleton, @Max_stapleton38
Eau Claire remains perfect against Duluth this season
Duluth, MINN. – The Express came into Duluth for the first time this season to play game one of a double header against the Huskies.
Mason Burns was on the bump for the Huskies, while JJ Pease got the start for the Express.
The Express got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. Joe Yorke came up to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. He blooped a single into shallow right field to bring in two runs and put Eau Claire atop early.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Huskies put together a rally that was capped with Kristian Campbell lacing a single into right field. Bobby Blandford came around to score and at the end of three, Duluth was trailing 2-1.
Eau Claire answered right back in the top of the fourth. After Charlie Szykowny hit a leadoff double, Sam Hunt brought him home with a hard ground ball up the middle. Later in the inning, Joe Yorke worked a bases loaded walk, then Jake Sapien hit a first pitch double to bring in another two. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, Eau Claire was up 6-1.
The Huskies wouldn’t go down quietly, as Bobby Blandford came up with runners on first and third and two outs. He hit a single into right-center field to bring in Eddie Satisky.
Only one full frame later, Kristian Campbell hit a double that ricocheted off of the first base bag, allowing JD Rogers to easily score from second base. Campbell advanced to third on a wild pitch, then Eddie Satisky grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice. At the end of five innings of play, the Huskies were still trailing 6-4.
In the top of the sixth, Andrew Brockwell came into the game in a tough situation. With the bases loaded and no one out, Jake Sapien hit a dribbler that barely stayed fair down the first base line for another run for the Express. Sam Kuchinski then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which was followed by Reed Latimer hitting an RBI single. At the end of six and a half, the express were winning 9-4.
No more runs were scored until the top of the eighth. With two on and two out, Sam Hunt hit a soft grounder down the first base line. Peyton Powell couldn’t field it cleanly as the Express took a 10-4 lead.
Eau Claire continued to add on in the ninth inning. Sam Kuchinski found himself at the plate with the bases loaded and one out. He hit a single into left field to bring home another run for the Express. Two batters later, Charlie Szykowny worked a bases loaded walk to make it a 12-4 ballgame.
The Huskies couldn’t score any runs in the bottom of the ninth and the Express took game one of the doubleheader by a score of 12-4.
JJ Pease picked up his second win of the season, while Mason Burns’ record dropped to 1-3.
Game two of the doubleheader will take place at Wade Stadium at 6:35pm.
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.
