Rochester, Minn. – Defenses stand strong, as the Trains hold off the Honkers from a comeback win and split the series with an 8-6 victory.
Eau Claire Express Postgame Recap:
Following a Fourth of July loss, the Express traveled to Minnesota and showed up in epic fashion, securing four runs right away in the first inning.
The four runs were secured as CJ Varsho hit a double to left field, but due to an error in left field and an error in right field, Varsho brought home himself and Cade Palkowski, who had been walked.
Bases empty, Matthew Maulik was up to bat and hit a home run to right field, his third of the series and his sixth of the season, to bring the lead to 3-0. Right after, Jake Busson hit his own home run to left field to increase the lead to 4-0.
Despite the Honkers responding with a home run of their own in the first inning, Rochester was still down three runs until the third inning, when it advanced to a four-run deficit again as Jaxon Schumacher stole home for a 5-1 lead.
Rochester responded with another run in the bottom of the third, but the Trains ultimately took off in the fifth inning with three earned runs. Starting with Maulik crossing home plate after all bases were loaded and Busson was walked, followed by Anthony Martinez, who crossed home on a Schumacher base hit to left field. The third run was earned after a third base error to bring home Landon Ubrig.
Holding an 8-2 lead, the Honkers fought back and earned two runs in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth inning to shorten the score deficit to 8-6.
With one more inning, the Honkers still had a chance of pulling back with a comeback after the Trains secured zero runs in the top of the ninth. However, Zach Peters came in as a pitcher late in the eighth inning to close out the inning with the third out.
Peters continued to hold his own as he dished out one strikeout, followed by a flyout to second base, then a third strikeout to end the game with an 8-6 victory and tying the series 1-1
Eau Claire ended the game with eight runs on eight hits and one error, whereas Rochester secured six runs off of eight hits and eight errors.
The Trains will head back to Carson for a doubleheader against the Wausau Woodchucks with the first game at 11:05 a.m. and the second game at 2:05 p.m. Monday.
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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.
