Eau Claire, WI – The Eau Claire Express (2-5) dominated both on the mound and at the plate Monday night as they earned a 14-1 rout of the La Crosse Loggers (2-5).
Lakeland University Post Game Recap: The Loggers would score the first run of the game and as it would turn out, their only run of the game, in the top of the 1st inning. The run came around on two singles and an error.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, Eau Claire would come back with a three run 3rd inning. Nick Lopez (Illinois-Chicago) got things started with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Phillip Sikes (Pima CC), newly back in Eau Claire for his second season with the Express, reached after getting hit by a pitch. An RBI single by Connor Laspina (Flagler College) and a two RBI double by Sam Kohnle (Winona State) would knock in the three runs, giving Eau Claire a 3-1 lead.
The Express continued to chug along in the bottom of the 4th inning. Three straight walks to Troy Beilsmith (Evansville), Brock Burton (Grand Canyon), and Nick Lopez loaded the bases. Beilsmith would score on a fielder’s choice hit by Sikes and Burton would come in on an RBI single from Kohnle. Lopez ran home on a Loggers wild pitch. Adam Krajewski (St. Thomas) would deliver the big hit of the inning, a two RBI double that scored Sikes and Kohnle to make it 8-1 Express.
Eau Claire was still not finished, scoring a run in the 5th when Beilsmith reached on a single and eventually scored on a La Crosse error. Two would come in during the 7th inning. Nick Lopez walked and was replaced with PR, Avery Lehman (St. Thomas). Lehman headed to second as Sikes walked and came around to score on another Laspina RBI single. Sikes headed for home after Sam Kohnle ripped an RBI single.
The Express added three insurance runs in the 8th to finish their scoring. Newcomer Boone Montgomery (UT-Arlington) lead off with a single and Sam Stonskas (Blackhawk CC) advanced him to second. Beilsmith singled to load the bases. Back-to-Back RBI singles with the bases loaded gave the Express two runs and Kohnle made the score 14-1 after he walked.
Solidifying the electric offense was Eau Claire’s dominant pitching. Matt Verdun (Lewis) started on the bump and tossed 4.1 innings, leaving due to a cut on his pitching hand. Verdun gave up one unearned run, six hits, and struck out three. Alec Baker (Dallas Baptist) entered in relief and was very strong, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings without surrendering a hit or run. He walked two and struck out two. Nick Herold (Winona State) was on the mound for the final two innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out four.
Eau Claire travels to La Crosse, WI for game two of the four game series tomorrow evening. They return to Carson Park on Wednesday, June 5th for a 6:35 pm first pitch. Join us for Brewers Night! Wear your favorite Brewers gear for a chance to win tickets to a Crew game in Milwaukee.
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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 (MIA). 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.