Eau Claire, Wis. – The Eau Claire Express started their four-game series against the Duluth Huskies with a dominating 13-1 victory Monday night.
Following a dominating 12-run win, the Trains rolled past the La Crosse Loggers, leading the Great Plains East Division second half with a record of 24-7.
Eau Claire started its offensive momentum in the bottom of the second inning, putting together four runs, starting with Sawyer Stein hitting a double to left field, bringing home Jake Busson, who previously got on base with a single to left field.
The one earned run was quickly followed by Quinten Marsh crossing home plate off a wild pitch thrown to Mikey Muniz at bat. Followed by Philip Cheong hitting a single to center field to bring home Stein and AJ Marchetti for a 4-0 lead.
Eau Claire’s lead quickly grew to 9-0 in the bottom of the third as Marsh crossed home plate following another wild pitch thrown, this time to Marchetti. Ethan Miller, up to bat, hit a single to center field, bringing home Marchetti, quickly followed by Cheong hitting a two-run triple near center field.
The bottom of the third inning ended with the Express securing five runs as Cheong crossed home plate off a wild pitch thrown to CJ Varsho.
Taking a break in the fourth inning, the Express picked back up their offensive momentum, securing a final four runs as Busson hit a double to center field, plating three, quickly followed by Busson running home on a Marsh double to right field.
Duluth finally put itself on the board in the seventh inning with one unearned run off a sacrifice fly, but the Huskies ultimately stayed silent, obtaining one run on six hits and zero errors, compared to the Express’s 13 runs off 13 hits and one error.
From the mound, starting Express pitcher Braxton Bjur was hot, pitching for five innings and dishing out seven strikeouts, allowing only two walks and three hits.
At bat, Cheong led the team, going 6-for-3, securing one triple, two runs and a team high of four RBIs.
The Express will take on the Huskies in Wade Stadium for their last away game of the season at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.
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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.
