La Crosse, WI – The Eau Claire Express (9-12) were topped by the La Crosse Loggers (11-10) in Sunday’s afternoon game. After going back and forth, La Crosse secured the 4-3 victory.
Lakeland University Postgame Recap: The Loggers got started in the bottom of the 2nd inning. They scored two runs on four hits and a walk. This 2-0 lead held strong through the next two innings.
Eau Claire tied the game in the top of the 5th after scoring two runs of their own. Sam Stonskas (Blackhawk CC) singled and Connor Laspina (Flagler College) ripped a double to advance Stonskas to third. Stonskas would come in to score on an error by the Loggers shortstop. In the next at bat, Phillip Sikes (Pima CC) hit an RBI single to plate Laspina.
After the Loggers took a 3-2 lead in the 6th inning, the Express once again tied the game in the top of the 7th. Troy Beilsmith (Evansville) and Spencer Myers (Notre Dame) singled, followed by a Matt Bottcher (Illinois-Chicago) walk. With the bases loaded, Phillip Sikes put the ball into play on a fielder’s choice that allowed Beilsmith to score.
The Loggers responded in the following half inning to take a 4-3 lead and secure the win.
Andrew Tri was on the mound to begin for the Express and tossed five innings, allowing two runs off seven hits. Tri issued two walks and struck out two. Jack Brown (Minnesota State) worked one inning of relief, giving up one run. Rece Finck (Illinois-Springfield) pitched the final two innings, allowing a single run off three hits. Although he received the loss, Finck pitched his strongest outing of the year and struck out three Loggers.
The Express returns to Carson Park on Monday, June 17th for a 6:35 pm game against the Loggers. Join us for Mystery Monday and keep a close eye on our social media where we will be giving out clues on how to earn discounted tickets, prizes, and free food!
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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.