Eau Claire, Wis. – Just when it looked like the Express would stop their skid, they couldn’t hold on.
Eau Claire led 7-3 after a five-run fifth inning gave it the momentum, but Duluth responded with a run in the sixth to pull closer and a big five-run inning of its own in the seventh to take a 9-7 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game. The loss dropped the Express to 5-12 on the season.
Back-to-back singles in the opening frame plated the first run of the day as George Bilecki (Arizona State) came home on Marcelino Alonso’s (Madison College) base knock. Three batters later, McGwire Turner (Montevallo) got enough of a flyout to right field to bring Alonso home for a sacrifice fly that gave Eau Claire an early 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Easton Bobb (St. Thomas) gave up just four hits through the first four innings but the Huskies managed to manufacture a run in each of the second, third and fourth frames to take the lead back at 3-2.
The advantage did not last long though, as the Express lineup went to work in the fourth. Three consecutive batters reached to start the frame, loading the bases for Alonso, the team’s batting average leader. The Reedsburg, Wis., native cashed in with a two-RBI single up the middle to put Eau Claire back in front. The big blast came two batters later, as Ian Guanzon (San Joaquin Delta) demolished a ball over the left-center field fence for a three-run blast to give the Express a 7-3 lead. The home run was Guanzon’s first as a Train.
Bobb managed to limit the Duluth offense to just one run in the top of the sixth, but the Chippewa Falls native ran into some heavy traffic in the sixth. Despite recording two relatively quick outs, the Huskies lineup began to plate runs in a myriad of ways. A botched first-and-third play by Eau Claire pushed the first run across and forced manager Dale Varsho to turn to the bullpen after another walk. Duluth took advantage, as an RBI single and a bases-clearing triple put the away team back on top 9-7.
Reliever Dylan Dickert (Montevallo) pitched three excellent innings in relief, retiring all nine batters he faced to keep the Express within striking distance, but they failed to capitalize. The home side managed just one hit over the final three frames to drop a fourth-straight game.
Eau Claire heads to Rochester for the first contest of a home-and-home series with the Honkers. The return game will be Friday at 6:35 p.m. at Carson Park, the first of a three-game weekend home stand.
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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.
