EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Duluth’s (28-39) second trip to Eau Claire (43-23) in the past three days came up empty yet again, with Eau Claire powering three home runs en route to a 5-1 win. Four Express pitchers shut down the Huskies, allowing just five hits in total, with back to back sixth inning doubles from Wyatt Pennington and Brayden Smith accounting for Duluth’s lone tally.
Mike Erspamer got the ball for Eau Claire, but it was a short start as he readied for the playoffs. Erspamer was excellent, pitching 2.2 innings and striking out five of the nine he faced, allowing a hit and a walk. Jackson Niederwerder came on for the next 3.1, allowing two hits and two walks, plus the lone run, but he struck out four and earned the win. Sam Malone and Brock Adamson combined for three scoreless to finish the game.
Duluth got another lengthy start from Ben Llewellyn in his final outing, tossing seven innings, Llewellyn was sharp through four, allowing a solo homer to Hollon Brock in the second inning but otherwise retiring every batter he faced. Llewellyn walked two in the fifth who both came around to score, and allowed back-to-back home runs in the seventh to Jaxon Schumacher and Adam Salazar to put the game away. In total, Eau Claire also racked up five hits, but the long ball was their friend and it put Duluth away ultimately.
The win clinched a share of the season series for Eau Claire, who will finish either 7-5 or 6-6 against the Huskies depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s game. The Express still trail the La Crosse Loggers by a game in the race for home field advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs, with three games apiece left.
On Deck
Duluth plays one more in Eau Claire before returning home to potentially clinch the Superior Cup. The Huskies need to take one of two from Thunder Bay between Friday and Saturday to reclaim the annual cup between the teams for the first time since 2023. Tickets to the final two games can be found online on the team website, and action for the final three Huskies game can be streamed on FloSports.