Eau Claire, Wis. –  The Eau Claire Express earned the title of 2026 Great Plains East Second Half Champions after a dominating 9-3 victory, due to a third-inning surge against the Duluth Huskies Thursday night.

Following a hot 5-1 victory over the Duluth Huskies, the Express rolled into Carson Park once again to deliver a 9-3 victory, clinching a 3-1 series victory and being named the 2026 Great Plains East Second Half Champions.

The Huskies got on the board first at the top of the second inning, with Duluth securing the first three hits, and all three hits being hit out of the yard, marking three-straight home runs for the Huskies and a 3-0 lead. 

Eau Claire responded in the bottom inning of the second, securing its first hit of the game by designated hitter Quinten Marsh from Stanford, hitting a single to center field. Although putting up their first hit, the Express was unable to produce a run until the third inning.

As the Huskies were able to get their bats hot, it was at no fault of Express starting pitcher Sawyer Hoffman from Winona State, who spent his six innings on the mound dishing out nine strikeouts.

The third inning is when Carson Park saw the Express team they know and love, as the Trains secured five runs, all brought in by home runs. The offensive momentum started with CJ Varsho hitting a single to center field, followed by Jake Busson getting hit by a pitch, putting two Express runners on base.

Matthew Maulik from the University of St. Thomas was up to bat and on his fifth delivered pitch, hit a home run to left field, bringing home three for his eighth home run of the season to tie the score 3-3.

Next up to bat was Marsh, who was hit by a pitch, followed by Adam Salazar from Hope International University, who was delivered one ball, then on his second pitch, hit a home run near right field, his second of the season to bring in two runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Eau Claire continued its momentum into the fourth inning, adding one more run to its count as Philip Cheong crossed home plate off a Hollon Brock single to left field, bringing the score to 6-3.

Just for fun, the Express added another run to their total, bringing them to a 7-3 lead in the sixth inning with Cheong being walked, followed by stealing second, then third base, before coming home on a Brock single to left field.

Maulik has a time on the field, as he hits his second home run of the night towards right field, marking his ninth home run of the season to bring the score 8-3.

Eau Claire finished the night earning one ore run in the bottom of the eighth, as Sawyer Stein crossed home on a wild pitch thrown to Marsh at bat.

Finishing the night on the mound were Jakeb Lequia from Western Illinois University and Brock Adamson from Missouri State University to finish the game with 11 total strikeouts, two walks and allowing eight hits throughout the night.

The Express finished the night in Carson Park, earning nine runs on nine hits and one error, compared to the Huskies’ three runs on eight hits and two errors.

Eau Claire will have its last series of the regular season against the Waterloo Bucks in Carson Park, with game one taking place at 6: 35 p.m. Friday.

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The Eau Claire Express is 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. Having completed its 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 250 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 (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or Google Play and set the Booyah as your favorite team.