Eau Claire, WI- Battling back from a 2-0 deficit in the third (the first time the Express trailed in a game since July 24th) Eau Claire (15-7 Second Half, 30-28 Overall) defeated the Waterloo Bucks (8-14 Second Half, 32-26 Overall) by a score of 13-5 at Carson Park. The team’s ninth consecutive victory ties the franchise record wins in a row, a mark that was set eight seasons ago by the 2009 squad.
Express starter Ryan Zimmerman (St. Thomas) (3-2) gutted through five tough innings to earn his third win of the season. The 5’10 right-hander struck out seven and walked five while surrendering seven base hits, walking a tight rope of base runners by pitching out of jams early and often.
Reliever Josh Gaworski (Century CC) pitched the final four innings of the game, striking out five Bucks hitters on his way to earning his second save of the year.
Offensively, Eau Claire picked up right where they left off, punching in 13 runs on 15 hits, highlighted by a six-run third frame in which they initially grabbed the lead.
Express shortstop Justin Evans (Columbus St.) was named the Marshfield Clinic Player of the Game finished the night with four hits in five trips to the plate, driving-in two runs on a double and three singles.
With the win, Eau Claire moves to within four games back of first place Mankato in the Overall season North Division standings, while maintaining their one game hold on the top spot of the Second Half leaderboard.
Tomorrow the Express will be back at Carson Park for a 6:35 PM match up with the Willmar Stingers (13-8 Second Half, 31-26 Overall). Lefty-throwing Gerry Salisbury (Ohio) (4-1) will take the mound for Eau Claire, coming off a five-inning start in Bismarck, in which he allowed three runs on eight hits while picking up the win.
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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.