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Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (7-5) defeated the Waterloo Bucks (1-12) with a final of 15-5 on Sunday afternoon. The Express offense continued to impress, scoring 15 runs on 14 hits. In the series against Waterloo, Eau Claire scored a total of 27 runs off 26 hits.
The Express were the first to strike, scoring two in the 2nd inning. Noah Sifrit (Oklahoma State) walked, stole second, and scored on a wild pitch. Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) and Cody Milligan (Oklahoma State) both walked later in the inning and Myers scored on an Alec Trela (Memphis) RBI double to left field. Two more runs came in during the 4th inning. Noah Sifrit lead off with a single and advanced to third on a Spencer Myers single to left. Both would score on Scott Ogrin’s (Cal Poly) RBI double to center field.
Eau Claire added three runs in the 5th inning. Andrew Pratt (Lubbock Christian) began with a single and Nick Brueser (Stanford) reached on an error by Waterloo’s second baseman, advancing Pratt to second base. Noah Sifrit hit a single to load the basses. Devon Garcia (Ohio) got on after an error by Waterloo’s shortstop and Brueser scored on the play. Sifrit ran to home after Spencer Myers hit into a fielder’s choice.
The 6th inning saw the most Express runs. The bases were quickly loaded after Andrew Pratt and Nick Brueser were hit by pitches followed by a David LaManna (Notre Dame) walk. Adam LaRock (MATC) walked and Pratt scored. Devon Garcia came up with a huge bases clearing triple to center field that gave the Express an 11-3 lead.
The offensive surge continued in the 7th inning. Scott Ogrin, who entered the game in the 3rd inning, singled to left field. Andrew Pratt singled but both runners would advance an extra base due to an E5. Nick Brueser drove both base runners in with an RBI double. Pitcher Justin Slaten (New Mexico) was sent out to bat and the all-star singled to center field, advancing Brueser to 3rd. Brueser scored off a groundout hit by Adam LaRock. The final Express run came in the 8th inning when Alec Trela singled to drive in Spencer Myers.
Manny Castellano (Cumberland) got his first start of the season and earned the win. He went 6 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks. The lefty struck out six. Jimmy Fouse (Dallas Baptist) pitched a scoreless 7th inning, recording one K. Trevor Olson (Xavier) gave up two runs off three hits in the 8th inning and Austin George (College of Charleston) threw a scoreless 9th.
The Express have a league wide off day on Monday, July 16th. They return home to Carson Park on Tuesday, July 17th for a 6:35 pm first pitch. It will be Babies at the Ballpark night! Fans are encouraged to bring diapers to the ballpark to be donated to the Family Resource Center. Between inning games will also be baby themed!
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.
