Different stadium, same result.
After falling to the Loggers in extra innings at Carson Park Wednesday night, the Express fared similarly in the return game in La Crosse. Despite taking an early lead and threatening in the ninth, Eau Claire dropped to a 1-3 record Thursday night in an 8-6 loss to its in-state rival.
Jackson Glueck (Pima) got the scoring started after a quiet first few innings, poking a single through the infield to drive in two and give the Express an early 2-0 advantage. The lead was short lived, though, as the Loggers quickly responded with a five-run inning that knocked starting pitcher Conner Williar (Stony Brook) out of the game. Williar’s final line was 3.2 innings, five hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts.
Despite losing their early lead nearly immediately, Eau Claire kept battling to bring itself back into the ball game. The top of the fifth saw eight Express hitters come to the plate, with McGwire Turner’s (Montevallo) two-run double and Ian Guanzon’s (San Joaquin Delta) RBI single knotting the game back up at 5-5.
Express reliever Dylan Dickert (Montevallo) worked an efficient fifth to keep the momentum but eventually surrendered the lead an inning later. Savion Flowers’ two-run homer put the exclamation point on a three-run sixth for La Crosse, sending Eau Claire to its final nine outs trailing 8-5.
Right-hander Miller Green (Western Kentucky) posted a second consecutive effective outing out of the bullpen to keep the Express in the game, racking up six strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless innings. Eau Claire threatened to take advantage in its final chance at the plate as Guanzon scored on a fielding error on Matthew Cormier’s (San Joaquin Delta) single to center, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the game.
The Express return home to Carson Park tomorrow for their first matchup of the season with Duluth at 6:35 p.m.
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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.
