Waterloo, IA – Eau Claire takes advantage of the Bucks three errors with Jaxon Schumaker’s solo homer and two RBIs, and Anthony Martinez notching a pair of hits as the Express defeat the Bucks in game one of a rain delayed doubleheader, 8-5

After sweeping Rochester in two games, Eau Claire came into Waterloo red hot and they stayed that way to get the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Sawyer Stein reached on a fielder’s choice, then a walk put a runner in scoring position. A fielding error in right allowed Stein to come in to start the scoring, 1-0. 

In the bottom of the second inning, the Bucks got the run back. Jake Slade ripped a leadoff single, then stole second and moved up to third on an error. One batter later, Caleb Parker grounded out to bring Slade in to even the score, 1-1. 

In the top of the third inning, Eau Claire jumped back on top with a Jaxon Schumacher solo home run to left field to lift the Express to the lead 2-1. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Eau Claire padded their lead. A double and a single put runners at first and second. After a pitching change, Jake Busson crushed a double to left to bring in a run to make it 3-1. Now with two outs, a fielding error in center field allowed another run to score to move the advantage to 4-1. 

In the home half of the fifth, the Bucks leveled the score once again. Dane Most was hit by a pitch to open the inning, then a walk and a double steal put two in scoring position for Zach Davis who bounded a ball back up the middle to plate both runs to cut the lead to 4-3. After two walks and with two outs, Parker lined a single through the right side of the infield for an RBI single to knot the score at 4-4.

In the top of the sixth, the Express snatched the lead back. Philip Cheong doubled, then a walk put two on. At the plate, Matthew Maulik singled to score Cheong to put Eau Claire in front 5-4. Now with two outs, a throwing error let one more run in to push the lead to 6-4. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Waterloo brought the deficit down to one. Slade bashed a double to left, then moved to third on a Dane Most single. Next in line, Caleb Seibers lined a single off the glove of the third baseman to plate Slade to chop the lead to 6-5.

In the top of the ninth, the Express added some insurance runs. Jake Busson and Stein worked walks with one out, then moved up on a wild pitch. With Cheong up, a wild pitch let a run in to lift the lead to 7-5, then Cheong popped a sacrifice fly to first in foul territory to make it 8-5, the score that would be the final. 

With the loss, the Bucks go to 23-27 on the season and 9-8 in the second half of the season. Game two of the doubleheader is slated for 7:00 pm from Riverfront Stadium.

https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=6263