Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (13-17) and the St. Cloud Rox (15-15) went head-to-head for a doubleheader at Joe Faber Field. It was a beautiful day for baseball as the Express and Rox split the games.
Game 1:
The first game of the day did not go well for the Express. Starter Rece Dietrich (Duluth) pitched four innings, giving up 5 runs on eight hits and two walks. Isaiah Davis (Fresno State) entered to try to stop the damage but failed to do so. Seven Rox runs would score during his time on the mound, but only three were earned. Davis would go 0.2 innings during an 11 run 5th inning for St. Cloud. Drew Hmielewski (Minnesota) went 2.1 innings for the Express. He did not allow an earned run and gave up four hits while striking out two. Adam LaRock (MATC) made his debut on the mound, throwing a scoreless 9th inning.
Eau Claire scored their one run in the 3rd inning. Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) led off with a double and Jimmy Glowenke (Dallas Baptist) drove Myers in on an RBI single in the next at bat.
Game 2:
Game two was certainly better for the Express as the offense broke out for seven runs. The first three came in the top of the 5th inning. Nick Brueser (Stanford) started with a single. Devon Garcia hit a double, advancing Brueser to third. Adam LaRock (MATC) would ground out and Brueser came in to score on the play. Noah Sifirit would slash a triple in the next at bat, scoring Garcia, and would later slide to home on a wild pitch.
Two runs scored in the 7th. Devon Garcia hit a single and stole second base. He came around to score on an Adam LaRock RBI single. LaRock would advance and score on singles hit by Spencer Myers and Phillip Sikes (New Mexico). The final two Express runs came in the top of the 9th. Sikes drove in the go ahead run on an RBI double and scored in the next at bat as Scott Ogrin (Cal Poly) would hit an RBI double of his own.
Getting the start in game two for the Express was Trevor Olson (Xavier). He tossed 4.2 innings giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on six hits and one walk. Zach Grech (Stanford) had an impressive outing, throwing 3.1 innings allowing only one hit while striking out five. He would earn the win. Entering the game to get the save was once again Phillip Sikes. He walked two and struck out two in the scoreless bottom of the 9th.
Eau Claire returns to Carson Park tomorrow, Thursday, June 28, for a 6:35 pm first pitch. It will be travel neck pillow giveaway! The game is presented by the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. Travel neck pillows and Express T-Shirts will be given away to fans.
Season tickets and 5-Game Packs are on sale now. 5-Game Packs include a reserved seat, Express jersey, Express hat, Express mug, and unlimited food and beverage for $70. Click here to purchase your 5-Game Pack online and we will contact you about your seats. You can also call us at (715)839-7788. Jersey sizes will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
###
The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). 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.