Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (7-6) lost a heartbreaker to the Waterloo Bucks (2-12) on Tuesday by a score of 8-7. The Express lead going to the late innings but could not hold on as the Bucks came back to win.
Eau Claire got on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning. Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) reached on an error by the Waterloo shortstop and it was an RBI double for Alec Trela (Memphis) that scored Myers to make it a 2-1 ballgame in favor of the Bucks. Eau Claire scored two runs in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game at 3-3. Nick Brueser (Stanford) began with a single and Noah Sifrit (Oklahoma State) walked. Spencer Myers came up with the big hit, a two RBI double to send in both base runners.
The first Express lead came in the 5th inning. Scott Ogrin (Cal Poly) singled and advanced to second base when Andrew Pratt (Lubbock Christian) was hit by a pitch. Ryan Bishop (Dallas Baptist) singled, scoring Ogrin and putting Eau Claire up 4-3. The 6th inning saw three more runs. Adam LaRock (MATC) lead off with a single. He stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Spencer Myers. LaRock scored on a Cody Milligan (Oklahoma State) sac fly to center field. Alec Trela and Scott Ogrin followed with back to back walks. Andrew Pratt drove Trela in on an RBI single and Nick Brueser plated Ogrin on an RBI single.
Justin Revels (Illinois Springfield) got the start for Eau Claire tonight. He went 5 innings and gave up three runs, two earned. The junior allowed five hits and two walks while striking out five. Austin George (College of Charleston) showed improvement in his three innings. Two Waterloo runs would score while he was on the mound, but only one would be earned. George gave up two hits and two walks. The normally dominate closer, Phillip Sikes (New Mexico), faltered for the first time this season. The all-star had his first blown save, giving up three runs, two earned, off two hits and two walks. Sikes would receive the loss.
Eau Claire hosts Waterloo for the final time tomorrow, July 18th, for a 6:35 pm first pitch. Come celebrate Christmas in July with the Express players and staff! Santa will make a special appearance and between inning games will be Christmas themed. Buck Night is also on the calendar, including $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.