Bismarck, ND- The Express (9-7 Second Half, 24-28 Overall) wrapped up a productive weekend at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field with a 13-4 victory over the Bismarck Larks (8-8 Second Half, 24-27 Overall) on Sunday.
Outscoring the Larks by 15 runs over the last two days, Eau Claire raised their season-long run differential into the positives having now scored 256 runs while surrendering 255 in 2017.
Much like Saturday night, the Express offense flexed their muscles in this one, striking for 13 runs on 20 hits. Once again, the bats got the job done by picking away at Bismarck's pitching staff with single after single, connecting on just two extra base hits.
With Eau Claire leading 7-3 in the seventh, second baseman Luke Bandy (Dallas Baptist) launched a two-run homer to cap off a four-spot inning that extended the gap to 11-3 and effectively buried the Larks hopes for a comeback.
DING-DONG! @Luke_Bandy's two-run homer caps off a four-run seventh inning for the Express!
11-3 EC B7#AllAboard pic.twitter.com/I3mzFr9HNY
— Eau Claire Express (@ecexpress) July 23, 2017
Bandy was one of three Express batsmen to drive in three runs on the day, joining left fielder Zach Ashford (Fresno State) and shortstop Justin Evans (Columbus State) as the team’s main run producers from the three, four and five spots in the lineup.
Starter Gerry Salisbury (Ohio) (4-1) picked up his fourth win of the season after tossing five solid innings of 3-run ball. The left-hander also flashed the leather in the bottom of the fourth, making a spectacular diving catch off a popped-up bunt attempt.
Who says pitchers can't be athletes too? @gerbear_8 with the miraculous catch!
4-0 EC B4#AllAboard pic.twitter.com/PtHDWIE6kr
— Eau Claire Express (@ecexpress) July 23, 2017
Relievers Craig Colen (Cal Poly) and Cody Dye (New Mexico) took care of the final four frames, allowing just one earned run while racking up five combined strikeouts.
Improving to 9-7 in the second half, the Express now trail the North Division-leading Mankato MoonDogs by two games in the second half standings. Eau Claire will begin a two-game series with the MoonDogs tomorrow in Mankato, giving the Express a chance to bring themselves into a tie for the second half division lead should they win both of those contests.
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, more than 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.