Eau Claire, WI- The Express got back in the win column on Sunday night after having their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Willmar Stingers just the day before. Eau Claire put up 11 runs on 12 hits as a team to run away from the Stingers by a final score of 11-4.
Making his second start of the season, Express pitcher Cody Dye (New Mexico) (1-1) dazzled over five innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Normally appearing out of the bullpen for Eau Claire, Dye was able to miss bats with ease on a starter’s workload this evening, striking out seven Willmar hitters on 82 pitches.
Reliever Kenny Ogg (Ohio) tossed three solid innings after replacing Dye in the top of the sixth, striking out four Stingers and surrendering two earned runs. Jake Sommers (UW Milwaukee) would take over for Ogg for the final three outs of the night and loaded the bases on a couple of walks and a hit by pitch, but navigated his way out of trouble to keep the score at 11-4.
The main contributors offensively for Eau Claire in this one we’re shortstop Justin Evans (Columbus State) and catcher Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) who combined to drive-in five of the team’s runs on the night. Wolforth would be named the Marshfield Clinic Player of the game after collecting three hits in five trips to the plate.
The Express hit the road for Thunder Bay tomorrow to kick off a two-game set with the Border Cats. Manny Castellano (University of the Cumberlands) is scheduled to receive the starting nod on Monday after pitching well in his first appearance as a starter.
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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 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, more than 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). 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 on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.