The Express didn’t bring their best to Duluth.

A night after dismantling the Huskies 15-6 at home, Eau Claire managed just one run in a 4-1 defeat in the return trip at Wade Stadium.

Duluth jumped on Express starter Carter Endisch (Lewis) for three runs through just two innings before adding another off Kenneth Fistler (Alma) in the third. Fistler would settle in for an excellent outing out of the bullpen, but the 4-0 score ended up being enough.

The four-run deficit held until the final inning as Eau Claire strung some offense together for the first time all night in the ninth, but the visitors could only push one run across on a Gavin Obresmki (Rock Valley) single before the game came to an end. The loss drops the Express to 2-4 on the season.

Fistler threw six innings in relief, giving up just one run on four hits and giving the rest of the Eau Claire bullpen a rest day heading into the homestand.

Eau Claire returns home for a two-game set against the Badlands Big Sticks before heading back out on the road. Tomorrow’s contest against the Big Sticks is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Carson Park.

Box Score

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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.