Eau Claire, WI– Express lose a heartbreak in the 9th inning.

Eau Claire Express Postgame Recap:

The Express found out tonight just why the St. Cloud Rox has the best overall record in the Northwoods League. Timely hitting was the story of tonight’s game. 

The starting pitchers for both teams were dealing early as Shane Spencer (Central Arizona College) and Storm Hierholzer (Texas Christian University) allowed no runs until the bottom of the fifth inning when Connor Burns (Long Beach State) knocked Eau Claire’s first opposite-field home run of the season to give the Express a two-run lead. 

Then it seemed as if the Express would be only the third team to sweep a series against St. Cloud joined the Mankato Moondogs and Waterloo Bucks. The Express were up 2-1 going into the ninth inning, needing just two outs to capture a memorable victory on Turn Back the Clock Night at Carson Park.

But the Rox gave Spencer trouble as he attempted to be the first Express pitcher since 2017 to throw a complete nine innings. A few walks later it was Luke Trahan (Dallas Baptist) fresh off of a lights-out performance at the MLDS last night to try and close the game out with one out and runners on second and third. 

St. Cloud must have been really happy to see Spencer leave the game and proceeded to put up six runs in the ninth courtesy of a Jordan Barth (Augustana) RBI bloop single, an Easton Waterman (Point Loma Nazarene) check-swing RBI single to right field, and a monster Nick Yovetich (San Francisco) RBI triple.

The Express will try to bounce back tomorrow night when the Minnesota Mud Puppies come to town. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. (CT).

**

The Eau Claire Express is a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27^th season, the Northwoods 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 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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 Google Play and set the Booyah as your favorite team.