Eau Claire, Wis. – For the third time this season, the Express dropped the series opener to the Border Cats.
Eau Claire notched a run in each of the first two innings to build an early lead, but a grand slam off the bat of Thunder Bay right fielder Jordan Bach was the deciding hit of the game. The Express failed to mount any comeback attempt as the Border Cats’ bullpen worked six scoreless innings to secure the win.
Starting pitcher Walker Retz had allowed zero hits heading into his fifth of work, with the only significant traffic coming in the third as Thunder Bay pushed a run across on an error, a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a sacrifice fly. The first three batters of the fifth reached to load the bases for Bach, prompting a mound visit from Eau Claire manager Dale Varsho. The experienced skipper decided to keep Retz in the game, but two pitchers later Bach lifted a ball over the short porch in right field to put the Border Cats ahead 5-2, a score that would hold for the remainder of the contest.
The Trains got the scoring started early for the second consecutive night with a two-out rally in the first inning. A walk and back-to-back singles put ducks on the pond for Nick Mascaro (Cal State Bakersfield), who drew a four-pitch walk for the first run of the game.
An inning later, Alex Hendrickson’s (St. Thomas) double moved Adam Salazar (Cal State Bakersfield) to third base with one out. Center fielder George Bilecki (Arizona State) did what he needed to, smashing a ball to the right-center field fence for a sacrifice fly to put the Express up 2-0.
The Border Cats responded in the third to cut the lead in half before Bach’s big hit put them on top two innings later.
Eau Claire looked to mount a rally in the late innings trailing by three runs, but the Thunder Bay bullpen stifled the home side. Three different relievers held the Express hitless from the fourth inning on after starting pitcher Makaio Cisneros exited after three innings.
The Eau Claire relievers shined as well, keeping their team within striking distance after Retz exited. Austin Steeves (Stanford), Cohen Gomez (Stanford) and Lorenzo Atwell (Walters State CC) combined for five scoreless innings, with Steeves shouldering the bulk of the work with three scoreless frames.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Sunday. Josh Glaser (Texas State) is scheduled to get the start for the Express.
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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.
