Schulfer pitches Eau Claire to narrow victory

Box Score – Virtual Game Day Program

Two runs in the first inning was all the Eau Claire Express needed as Austin Schulfer pitched 7 innings of one run baseball to lead them past the Alexandria Blue Anchors by a score of 2-1 on Saturday night at Carson Park.

Eau Claire jumped on the board the first chance they could get when left fielder Daulton Varsho led off in the first inning with a solo bomb over the right-center field fence to put them up 1-0.  The following at-bat shortstop Irving Lopez would single and four batters later would score off an Alexandria error.

Those would be the only two runs scored by Eau Claire but luckily for Austin Schulfer they didn’t need anymore.

“He did a great job. He was throwing strikes, mixing it up, only had one walk.” Express Field Manager Dale Varsho said about Schulfer’s night. “It’s fun to watch him.”

Schulfer pitched 7 innings and only gave up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 5. Before tonight he was 0-2 in his only two starts this season so he said tonight felt good to notch his first win of the season.

“I try to build off of every start and I took a step backwards last week in Duluth,” said Schulfer. “I had a week to focus on my stuff so its good to get out here and throw another solid start.”

Miles Nablo would come in to pitch a scoreless 8th inning which led way for Victor Sanchez to lock down the 9th and earn the save.

The Express struggled at the plate, only managing one hit after the 2^nd inning. Varsho said he was glad his team got the win but that won’t always happen.

“With the stats their starter had it’s great that we jumped on him quick but the unfortunate part is we didn’t continue that in any other inning after that,” said Varsho. “We didn’t even threaten really.”

Lopez and centerfielder Brady Burzynski each had one hit while Daulton Varsho had 2. Tanner DeVinny also added two walks but other then that Eau Claire’s bats were silent.  Even though Schulfer wasn’t one of the players swinging the bats, he doesn’t seem too concerned.

“Everyone likes a lot of runs,” said Schulfer, “but I feel like this game is a big confidence booster for us.”

The Express end their 7-game home stand with one more game against Alexandria tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. Mega Co-Op is sponsoring tomorrow's game, where the first 350 kids will receive a free youth baseball bat.