Express allow seventeen hits and can’t catch Honkers in marathon
In a game that lasted over three and a half hours, the Eau Claire Express fell behind early to the Rochester Honkers and never came back to fall 9-4 at Carson Park on Friday night.
The Honkers plated six runs in the first three innings and chased Express starter Austin Schulfer (Milwaukee) out of the game after just 1.2 innings pitched. He allowed five runs on six hits to earn his seventh loss of the season.
Daulton Varsho (Milwaukee) had a solid night at the plate with three hits and a walk. Travon Benton (New Mexico Junior College) was 2-4 on the night. He got the Express on the board with an absolute blast over the right field Fan Deck in the second inning and had an RBI double in the fourth which spurred the comeback attempt for Eau Claire.
The Express would pull within two runs but Rochester sealed the deal when Joe DeRoche-Duffin launched a two run blast to seal the deal for the Honkers.
Teddy Cillis (Hofstra) added two hits on the night and Michael Papierski (LSU) contributed an RBI.
The Express are back at it tomorrow at Carson Park with three games remaining on the home stand. They are only a half game away from elimination with nine games to play.
Tomorrow’s game at Carson Park is set for 6:35 p.m. against the Thunder Bay Border Cats and is sponsored by the Leader Telegram. There will be a Cowboy Monkey Rodeo show during the game.