EAU CLAIRE, Wis.- The Waterloo Bucks (32-26) showed some early spark but an Eau Claire Express (30-28) offensive onslaught was too much for the Bucks to overcome in a 13-5 loss. The Express tied their franchise record of nine consecutive wins.

Jake Viaene put the Bucks on the board with a two-run double yanked down the right field line in the top of the third inning. The Express were ready to answer on a game tying two-run single to center by Garrett Wolforth in the bottom of the third. Eau Claire continued to score in pairs, on a two-run single from Justin Evans and an RBI knock by Robbie Campillo with the help of a Bucks outfield throwing error, the Express opened up a 6-2 lead after three innings. 

Caleb Miley (1-1) was rolling until the bottom of the third and finished with three innings of work after surrendering six earned runs and Ryan Zimmerman (3-2) struck out seven batters in five complete innings.

After two more Express runs in the bottom of the fifth, Jay Schuyler delivered an RBI single up the middle for a Bucks answer. Schuyler scored on an Eau Claire throwing error from the outfield after a Charlie Concannon single trimming the deficit to 8-4.

The Express blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and only one out, Trevor Schwecke sent an RBI single up the gut. Next, Josh Norlin bounced an RBI single into left field and later an error at first base brought in two more runs. Ty Greene's RBI rip rounded out a five-run half inning transforming the score to a 13-4 Express advantage.

Brandon Gutzler did not give up with an RBI double to the left center gap to left center but ultimately the Bucks were swept by the Express at Carson Park after a 13-5 defeat.

Waterloo tries to get back on track in the Cedar Valley tomorrow, July 29 at 6:35 p.m. against the Bismarck Larks at Riverfront Stadium on Minions Night.

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The Waterloo Bucks 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 160 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.waterloobucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.