Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (8-6) defeated the Waterloo Bucks (2-13) on Wednesday night. It started as a pitchers’ duel on a beautiful evening at Carson Park, as both starting pitchers were dominant. However, the Express offense broke free in the late innings to top the Bucks, 7-0.
Carson Rudd (Stanford) was very impressive in his 4th start of the season and earned the win. The freshman tossed 6.1 scoreless innings, only giving up five hits and two walks. Rudd struck out 6 on his way to becoming the Express Player of the Night. Reagan MacDonald (Dallas Baptist) entered in the 7th inning with the bases loaded. Because the Express were up 4-0 and the potential tying run was at bat, MacDonald qualified for the save. The tall lefty threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing two hits, two walks, and striking out two.
The ballgame was scoreless until the bottom of the 5th inning when the Express scored three runs. Nick Brueser (Stanford) lead off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Devon Garcia (Ohio). Adam LaRock (MATC) slashed an RBI single to score Brueser and Garcia came home on a Noah Sifrit (Oklahoma State) fielder’s choice. Andrew Pratt (Lubbock Christian) showed power in the 6th inning, crushing a ball over the left field fence to bring Eau Claire’s lead to 4-0. Another run scored in the 7th inning when Spencer Myers doubled and later scored on a Cody Milligan (Oklahoma State) RBI single. Just to be safe, the Express added two runs in the bottom of the 8th. Andrew Pratt began with a single and Nick Brueser drove him in with an RBI double. Devon Garcia picked up an RBI with a single that scored Brueser.
Eau Claire will travel to St. Cloud (7/19 & 7/20) and Mankato (7/21 & 7/22) before the Northwoods League All-Star Break. The 2018 All-Star game will be played on Tuesday, July 24th and will feature four Express players. Justin Slaten, Phillip Sikes, Spencer Myers, and Scott Ogrin will represent Eau Claire. Ogrin will also participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. The Express return home on Thursday, July 26th for a 6:35 pm first pitch. It’s Big Brothers Big Sisters night presented by EO Johnson Business Technologies with Express t-shirts 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.
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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.