Sal Taormina (21) and Ty Blankmeyer (2) celebrate a full lineup effort that ignited an eight run explosion to open the game at TBaytel Park. The Cats would top the Eau Claire Express 10-5. (Photo courtesy of James Mirabelli Photography)

The Thunder Bay Border Cats scored four runs in the each of the opening two innings and never looked back as they defeated the Eau Claire Express 10-5 in action at TBaytel Park. The Border Cats earned the split with Eau Claire and won three of four on the home stand. The offense was ignited by a pair of three hit nights for corner infielders Nick Studer (Doane College) and Sal Taormina (Kean University). Studer drove in three RBI's while Taormina counted four, all counted in the first two innings off of Express starting pitcher Cory Taylor.

With the offense getting the engine going, that was all the support Border Cat starter Yuji Suzuki (Concordia University-St. Paul) needed. The Sophomore and Toronto native collected the win allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out two in seven strong. Wes Helsabeck (Winston Salem State) came in to shut the door getting the final six outs, whiffing three.

Christian Correa (Nicholls State) hit a 2-RBI double in the 7th while Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's University) extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-for-4 effort.

The Border Cats hit the road for a 3-games-in-2-nights trip to Duluth. A double header will be played with games slated for 1:05 EDT and 7:35 EDT.