Eau Claire, WI – Under a cloud cover in the Chippewa Valley, the Eau Claire Express were defeated by the visiting Minnesota Mud Puppies by a final score of 10-4.
The Express offense was shut down for the majority of this contest, as their offense came alive too late, putting across four runs in the final four frames. Ethan Farris (Texas State) scored the Trains’ first run on a wild pitch after leading the inning off with a triple. In the seventh, Reggie Bussey (The Ohio State) scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Davis Rivers (Texas Tech). In the eighth, Ethan Farris (Texas State) would score again on another wild pitch to cut into the Minnesota lead. Gabe Richardson (Minnesota- Duluth) would score a run in the bottom of the ninth on a hit by pitch RBI, but that would be all she wrote for the Express hitters, as they would not be able to manufacture another run tonight.
The Mud Puppies got on the board early, as they pushed across a run on an RBI single from Teige Lethert (UW- Milwaukee). Their offense fully broke open in the middle frames of this game, as they put up four runs in the fifth inning, two in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one more in the ninth to total nine runs in the blowout.
Zacary Tenn (Hawaii) got the start tonight for Eau Claire, as he would finish his outing of 4.2 innings pitched, allowing five unearned runs on seven hits, while striking out four. Liam Martin (Montevallo) picks up the win (1-1), after throwing 5.2 innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out seven. Tenn takes the loss tonight (1-1), and there was no save situation in tonights game.
The Express look to get back on track and split the series tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 6:35pm CT back at Carson Park.
https://scorebook.northwoodsleague.com/update/4299/statistics/stats/home/batting/game
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’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) 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, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. 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.