Eau Claire, Wis. – The Express fought back in a comeback 13-run victory against the Waterloo Bucks, completing a series sweep with a 14-13 victory Saturday night.

The Series sweep against Waterloo marks the end of the regular season for the two teams, with Waterloo retired for the summer and the Trains rolling into playoffs with a 46-23 overall record.

Starting slow offensively as the Express were not able to find a runner crossing home plate until the fourth inning, the Trains found more momentum from their defense early on. With Tommy Ches on the mound, facing Larry Edwards, Ches recorded the record-breaking 685th strikeout for the Trains, now leading the Northwoods League for most strikeouts in a season by a pitching staff.

The Bucks got on the board first with two runs in the top of the third, but the Trains quickly responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth as Anthony Martinez made it home on a Jaxon Schumacher fielder’s choice for a deficit of 2-1 to the Bucks.

Waterloo completely took off in the fourth inning, putting together eight runs, followed by another run in the top of the sixth inning for an 11-1 lead.

The Trains were slow in their response but were able to hold their composure when it mattered most. Eau Claire started its slow offensive stretch with two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Martinez crossed home on a Landon Ubrig single to center field, followed by Jake Busson making it home on an Ethan Miller sacrifice fly.

Waterloo kept a competitive rhythm throughout the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, adding one run each time, responding to the Trains’ comeback nature.

Down 12-3, the Trains put together four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with a wild pitch thrown to Busson, bringing home two runners. Followed by Sawyer Stein hitting his fourth home run of the season, bringing home two more.

In the eighth inning, Cade Palkowski scored on a Hollon Brock double to left field, followed by the bases being loaded and Mathew Maulik making it home on a hit by pitch. The inning ended with Martinez once again making it home on a Stein single to left field for a score of 13-10.

The Trains tied it up in the ninth inning, as the Bucks faced the same struggles as the Express had earlier in the game. The first earned run was from Philip Cheong, who crossed home on a Busson walk, followed by a wild pitch thrown to Schumacher to bring home Palkowski. Tying it up 13-13 was Martinez crossing home plate on a Schumacher sacrifice fly.

Brock Adamson was on the mound for the Trains, dishing out two strikeouts complemented by a flyout to left field to quickly silence the Bucks to only 13 runs. 

With Adam Salazar on second, Cheong advanced to first after being hit by a pitch, to put two runners on base. With Palkowski up to bat against pitcher Jaren Lauver, he was dished a ball, before swinging twice and hitting two foul balls, before finally hitting a single straight to shortstop, where it was missed, bringing home Salazar for a walk-off base hit, 14-13 victory.

The series sweep finishes the Express’s time in the regular season, before heading to game one of the playoffs taking place in La Crosse at 5:05 p.m. Sunday.

 

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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.