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Not even a change in venues could stop the Eau Claire Express from continuing their dominance over the Alexandria Blue Anchors.
The orange and black played a double-header at Knute Nelson Field in Alexandria, winning a suspended game from yesterday at Carson Park 6-3 while taking down the Blue Anchors 5-1 in a seven-inning night cap.
The Express were up 4-0 on the Blue Anchors yesterday at Carson Park when the rain came tumbling down and made the field unplayable for the remainder of the night. Therefore, since Alexandria didn't return to Eau Claire this summer, the two teams were forced to make it up today in Alexandria with the Express being the home team on the scoreboard.
But it didn't matter as they held on to win. The Blue Anchors made it 4-3 in the top of the seventh, but two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and eight innings sealed the deal. Tyler Hermann doubled in UW-Milwaukee teammate Mike Porcaro in the seventh, and Jeff Hendrix broke into the home run category with a solo shot in the eighth. Orlando Meza got the win on the mound while Aron McRee earned the save. Ian Doughty, who pitched the first three innings yesterday, went another one Tuesday, all scoreless.
In game two, the Blue Anchors got to an early 1-0 lead, but the Express scored three times in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good.
Mike Barajas, who had a two-run triple yesterday, broke it up with a two-run double to score Daniel Salters and Brian Mundell, the same two people he drove in yesterday. Later in the inning, Brent Gibbs knocked in Barajas on an RBI single.
In the top of the seventh, Barajas continued to be the star of the series by knocking in Salters and Drew Turbin on a bases-loaded single. He finished the game with four RBI, and six overall for the two games finished today.
It was a New Mexico presence on the mound as Conner Rusch earned his first win of the eyar by going five innings and allowing just the one run while Taylor Duree pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first save of the year.
The Express are now 5-0 on the year against the Blue Anchors and will look to continue the streak tomorrow at Knute Nelson Park. CJ Eldred will take the ball for Eau Claire with a first pitch at 6:35 p.m.
