Eau Claire, Wis. – On a wild opening night at Carson Park, the Express came up just short.
Despite notching 11 unanswered runs, Eau Claire ultimately fell to Thunder Bay 12-11 in a game that lasted over four hours and featured more runs than it did hits.
The Border Cats jumped out to an 11-0 lead after posting six runs in the top of the fourth frame, but the Express punched right back with five of their own. A two-RBI single off the bat of Alex Hendrickson (St. Thomas) capped off the big inning, with Thunder Bay mistakes also contributing to the five-spot.
The chaotic opening frames gave way to relatively quiet middle innings, with the Border Cats ultimately holding a 12-6 lead heading into the home half of the eighth. Eau Claire refused to go down quietly though, mounting an explosive rally that got Express fans to their feet as the home side pulled within one run. Three consecutive batters reached to start the inning before an Adam Salazar (Cal State Bakersfield) sacrifice fly notched the first tally, bringing leadoff hitter Joey Flom (Minnesota–Duluth) to the plate with two men on. An inside-out swing from the shortstop found the opposite-field gap in left-center, scoring a run and giving Eau Claire the momentum.
Three more runs, including a run-scoring single to center from Jackson Glueck (Pima CC), cut the deficit to one, but Thunder Bay hurler Jackson Hohensee worked a flyout to end the threat. The Express went three up, three down for the first time all night in the ninth inning to give the Border Cats the victory.
Nathan Vela (Winona State) struggled from the onset in the opener, but Zach Diver (Doane) and Miller Green (Western Kentucky) each threw two scoreless frames to keep the game within reach in the late innings.
The Express will take on the Border Cats in the second game of the two-game set tomorrow night at Carson Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. as Eau Claire looks to get in the win column.
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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 Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. 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.
