Eau Claire, Wis. – The first Express triple of the season by Sawyer Stein secured a 7-3 victory over the La Crosse Loggers Friday night.
Eau Claire Express Postgame Recap:
As the Loggers marked the first earned run of the game in the first inning, the Express battled back, securing their own earned run in the second inning to tie the score, after Jake Busson hit a home run near center field.
The Trains took the lead with another earned run after Cade Palkowski crossed home plate due to Hollon Brock hitting a single base hit to center field.
Despite taking the lead at 2-1, the Loggers would not go down without a fight, securing their own two runs to gain a lead of 3-2 at the top of the seventh inning.
Still holding them off, the Express decided it was their turn and found their bright spots in the eighth inning. Starting with bases loaded off a walk, and two singles to fill the bases. As the Loggers switched pitchers and brought Dalton Smith to the mound, the Trains continued their momentum.
Mikey Muniz started the offensive drive and crossed home plate after Brock hit a single to left field. Right after, Busson hit his own single to left field, bringing home Palkowski.
On a wild pitch, the Express secured their third run of the inning as Matthew Maulik crossed home. With Stein up to bat, he was dished two balls before he hit a triple near center field, bringing home Brock and Busson, marking the first triple of the season for the Express.
Now with a 7-3 lead, all the Trains had to do was close out the ninth inning. Olivier Martel went to the mound for the Express and struck out two players and Philip Cheong’s right field putout secured the victory over the Loggers.
The Express will take on the Loggers once more in Copeland Park at 6:35 p.m. Saturday.
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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.
