Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (13-22) dropped the first game of the series with the Willmar Stingers (22-13) by a score of 12-5. The Stingers bats proved too powerful for the Express pitching staff.
Starter Andrew Dean (Illinois Springfield) surrendered nine runs, five being earned, on eight hits two walks and recorded two strikeouts. Colton Hale (Illinois Springfield) came in to throw 3.1 innings. He allowed three runs off two hits and three walks. Manny Castellano (Cumberlands) finished the game for the Express, going 2.2 scoreless innings and only gave up one walk and one hit during his time on the mound.
The Express had a big 3rd inning, scoring four runs. Eau Claire quickly loaded the bases on a Drew Hmielewski (Minnesota) single, Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) reaching on an error, and Jimmy Glowenke (Dallas Baptist) being hit by a pitch. Scott Ogrin (Cal Poly) drove in Hmielewski and Myers with an RBI double and moved Glowenke to third. Andrew Pratt hit a sac fly to score Glowenke and Ogrin crossed home after a groundout by Nick Brueser (Stanford). The other run came in the 7th inning. Cody Milligan (Oklahoma State) reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and third, and scored on a David LaManna (Notre Dame) single.
Eau Claire finishes the road trip tomorrow, July 3rd, in Willmar. The Express will welcome Thunder Bay to Carson Park for Independence Day on Wednesday, July 4th. It will be Fourth of July Postgame Fireworks! The game is presented by Cohen Law Offices, LLC and fans will receive a baseball giveaway (while supplies last). Wednesday is also Buck Night, which includes $1 hot dogs, $1 small sodas, $1 domestic beer and $4 wine for the first three innings!
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.
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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.