The Thunder Bay Border Cats pulled out a thrilling 2-1 win in 10 innings to win their home opener over the Eau Claire Express on Friday before a big crowd of 2,345 fans at Port Arthur Stadium.

With the Cats trailing 1-0 in the bottom of tenth and the tying run on second base with the extra inning runner, Manny Alberto (Western Kentucky University) doubled down the right field line to score Jesus Vasquez (University of Hawaii). Following an infield single by Dante Smith (North Dakota State University) put runners on the corners and nobody out, Alex Kean (Morehead State University), lifted a sacrifice fly to centrefield to score Alberto with the winning run.

Alex Unga (Creighton University) picked the win in relief with solid three innings as he allowed just one hit, while striking out four.

The Cats wrap up their home series with the Express Saturday night at 6:35pm.  Lefthander Carson Small (Pensacola State CC), who pitched four shutout innings in the season opening win at Waterloo, is the scheduled starter on the mound for Thunder Bay.