Waterloo, IA – Eau Claire jumps ahead with timely at-bats, but the Bucks score three runs with a two-run double from MJ Sweeney and an RBI from Dane Most before the Express take control in the tenth to sweep Waterloo, 6-3 in extras.
After scoring first in game one, Eau Claire ran out to an early lead in game two. In the top of the second inning, they tallied four base hits to begin the frame. The last two were RBI singles from Sawyer Stein and Sean Cody, who each knocked in a run to put the Express on top, 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, Eau Claire extended their lead. Jaxon Schumaker reached on an error, then moved up to second on a walk. With two outs in the inning, Cade Palkowski went back up the middle for a single into center to bring Schumaker in to score to make it 3-0.
In the home half of the fourth, Waterloo answered back. Mitchell Iliff singled with one out, then Dane Most walked with two down. One batter later, MJ Sweeney destroyed a double off the wall in right-center field to plate both runs and cut the lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bucks made things even. After a pair of strikeouts to start the inning, George Baker worked a walk and stole his way to second. Next up, Dane Most ripped a single to left off the glove of the third baseman to bring home Baker to level the contest at 3-3.
That score would hold until the top of the tenth inning. After a walk put two on, Anthony Martinez pulled a single to left to score the extra inning runner and push Eau Claire ahead 4-3. After a walk loaded the bases, Schumacher worked a walk to force in a run to double the lead to 5-3. One batter later, Hollon Brock came in to pinch hit and muscled a single to right to plate a run to make it 6-3.
Jackson Niederwerder came back out in the ninth to finish off three innings of work to earn the win and close out the sweep of the Bucks.
With the loss, Waterloo drops to 11-19 on the season and 2-8 in their last ten games. Next on the docket, the Bucks head north for a two-game series with the Duluth Huskies. The first game is scheduled for 6:35 pm from Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota. Both starters are TBD.
https://northwoodsleague.com/baseball/game/?id=6013