Express Fall, 9-1, to Bucks in Penultimate Game of Season
Northwoods Eau Claire Express

Express Fall, 9-1, to Bucks in Penultimate Game of Season

Published on August 8, 2025 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Eau Claire Express News Release


Eau Claire, Wis. - The Express just didn't have it in the opener of the final series of the 2025 season.

Waterloo posted four runs in the first inning and continued to add on throughout the night, cruising to a 9-1 victory over Eau Claire.

Starting pitcher Joey Koch (Century CC) struggled out of the gate for the Express as the Bucks knocked him out of the game after just two outs. They tagged him for four runs on five hits and two walks before he exited the game and Zach Diver (Doane) entered in relief to record the final out of the top of the first.

Diver pitched well out of the bullpen, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up just one run on four hits while striking out three. His lone run surrendered came in the third inning as Michael Iliff singled in Jimmy Nugent who had tripled after blasting a three-run home run in the first inning.

The Eau Claire coaching staff turned to Lorenzo Atwell (Walters State CC) for the sixth inning, but he was unable to record an out before exiting the game. A double, two walks and a hit-by-pitch forced Kenneth Fistler (Alma) into the game out of the bullpen with the bases after Waterloo had already scored one. Two more walks after Fistler entered pushed two more runs across the plate to make it 8-0.

Fistler began the seventh inning on the mound but exited with two outs after Cole Smith's RBI single to drive in Larry Edwards and make it a 9-0 game. Jake Busson (Illinois-Chicago) moved from shortstop to the mound and pitched well, closing out the final seven outs for the Express without allowing a hit.

The lone run of the game for Eau Claire came in the bottom of the seventh as Cort MacDonald (Stanford) tripled down the right-field line for his second extra-base hit of the day before scoring on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sam Erickson (Texas A&M) to bring it to the final score of 9-1.

The season finale is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Saturday evening between the Express and the Bucks once again. All-star Walker Retz (St. Thomas) will get the start on the mound.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Northwoods League Stories from August 8, 2025


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central