A 10-run first-inning onslaught powered the Thunder Bay Border Cats to a decisive victory over the Eau Claire Express, sweeping their two-game series.
Thunder Bay prevailed 20-5 over the Express at Port Arthur Stadium on Tuesday for their second straight win.
Hayden Stringfellow (Bossier Parish Community College) rocked a grand slam in the first inning to give the home side a commanding lead, with Jordan Bach (Southern Illinois University) following with a two-run blast after also notching a run-scoring double during his first at-bat in the frame.
Manny Alberto (Three Rivers Community College) led off the second inning with a solo home run. Alberto finished the contest with two hits and 4 runs batted in.
Thunder Bay’s Jeremy Sheffield (Georgetown University) and Corey Morro (University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma) each drove in a pair of runs.
Stringfellow was the Cwench Player of the Game for the Border Cats, with the home run and 4 RBI. Cwench is the official hydration partner of the Border Cats.
Bach now leads the team with three home runs, while Alberto’s was his second dinger of the season.
All nine batters in the Border Cats lineup recorded at least one hit.
Jackson Irwin (Bellarmine University) was credited with the win on the mound.
Thunder Bay’s record now stands at 8-7. The Border Cats have won three of four meetings with the Express thus far in 2025.
The Border Cats have the night off on Wednesday before welcoming the St. Cloud Rox to Port Arthur Stadium for a pair of games. That series starts on Thursday with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. It’s ‘Thirsty Thursday,’ with tall cans of Sleeping Giant Brewing Company’s RBI Lager available for $7.
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The Thunder Bay Border Cats are 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. Entering its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.bordercatsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Border Cats as your favourite team.