EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A game after the Waterloo Bucks (1-4) let up 13 runs to the Mankato MoonDogs, the Eau Claire Express (4-1) were out to one-up the MoonDogs. The good news for the Express, they succeeded.

The Express jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Owen Puk, the starting pitcher for Waterloo, hit two batters. They later came around to score on a fielder’s choice when Andrew Rantz threw home for the force at home. However, the ball hit off the runner’s head allowing that runner and another member of the Express to come in to score.

Those two runs in the second inning would end up being all Eau Claire needed to secure its fourth straight victory to extend its division lead. Eau Claire scored two in the second before adding five runs in the third.

The Bucks would end up using two position players to save bullpen arms for future games. Brodie Kresser and Kaleb Knox came into the ballgame for the Bucks. With Knox pitching in the bottom of the eight, the Express added five more runs including a grand slam to right field, the only home run of the ballgame as the Express went on to win 14-1.

The 13-run blowout is so far the largest blowout the Bucks have been a part of in the young Northwoods League season. The Bucks and Express play again tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. from Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Bucks have announced Ernie Day as a probable starter, while the Express have made no such announcement. You can listen to tomorrow’s game, as well as all Waterloo Bucks road games by following the links at waterloobucks.com.