Eau Claire, Wis. – A three-run Express lead in the ninth inning disappeared quickly and it seemed as though the game may have slipped away from the Trains. Enter JJ Moran.
In a game Eau Claire controlled from first pitch until the final inning, La Crosse came roaring back in its final chance at the plate. A home run, three singles and two walks erased the 3-0 deficit and left the bases loaded for the Loggers with the game tied and only one out. Kenneth Fistler (Alma) worked two huge strikeouts to end the rally. It did not take long for the Express to bounce back though, as Nick Mascaro (Cal State Bakersfield) singled and stole second base to reach scoring position. Moran (Stanford) was the hero for Eau Claire, singling through the right side to score Mascaro for the walk-off hit.
Starting pitcher Dawson Hargrove (Arkansas State) was excellent for the Express, the third consecutive quality start for the team. The Spring Hill, Tenn., native threw six innings and allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out nine batters and walking none. The great outing allowed Eau Claire’s offense to build its lead throughout the game.
The Express got on the board in the first inning as Mascaro singled and moved to second on a wild pitch before Dante Vachini (Cal Poly) singled through the left side to score him. Eau Claire continued to threaten with two runners on base but could only push one run across in the frame.
The game moved quickly through the next three innings before the Express got on the board again in the fifth. Cort MacDonald (Stanford) walked to start the inning and moved to second on Mascaro’s sacrifice bunt, putting a runner in scoring position. Sam Erickson (Texas A&M) walked two batters later to put two runners on, allowing Eau Claire to attempt a double steal with two outs. The throw down to second base from La Crosse catcher Kanon Sundgren was errant and reached the outfield, allowing MacDonald to score easily to make it 2-0.
Eau Claire added an insurance run an inning later as Jackson Glueck (Pima) smashed a ball to the deepest part of Carson Park in center field to score Jake Busson (Illinois–Chicago) who had reached on a walk. The run put the Express ahead 3-0 as manager Dale Varsho turned to the bullpen in relief of Hargrove.
Lorenzo Atwell (Walters State CC) worked a pair of scoreless innings for Eau Claire to keep the lead as he turned the ball over to Myles Seid (Saint Leo) for the ninth. Seid struggled in his attempt to close out the game, allowing all three of the Loggers’ runs before Fistler entered to send the game to the home half.
The win completed a three-game sweep for the Express and moved the Trains to 11-8 in the second half. Eau Claire heads to Waterloo for a pair of games against the Bucks before returning home Thursday against La Crosse once again.
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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.
