Express Score Six Unanswered Runs to Defeat Bucks 6-5
Northwoods Eau Claire Express

Express Score Six Unanswered Runs to Defeat Bucks 6-5

Published on July 31, 2025 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Eau Claire Express News Release


Eau Claire, Wis. - Trailing by five in the seventh inning with only two hits on the night, the Express were staring down a series sweep to the Bucks. Then the comeback started. It was slow at first and then all at once as Eau Claire rallied to win 6-5.

Waterloo notched a run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 5-0 in a game it had controlled all night. The Express responded though, with JJ Moran (Stanford) singling to start the inning and eventually coming around to score on a double play for Eau Claire's first run of the series. Joey Koch (Century CC) pitched a clean eighth to turn the game back to the Express lineup - he would eventually earn the win - which was all the hosts needed.

With one runner on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Eau Claire went to work. Two walks loaded the bases for Dante Vachini (Cal Poly), who blooped a single to center to score a pair of runs and pull his team within two. McGwire Turner (Montevallo) followed him up with an RBI single to force the second pitching change of the inning as the deficit was cut to 5-4. Two batters later, Matthew Connolly (Catawba College) notched his first hit as a member of the Express, and it was a big one; the single to left scored both Vachini and Turner to finally put Eau Claire ahead 6-5.

Austin Steeves (Stanford) entered to pitch the ninth and worked two quick outs. A full-count walk momentarily delayed the celebration but Steeves struck out Owen Ross to end the game and pick up the save.

Neither side scored through the first three innings as both starting pitchers worked effectively. Austin Mattingly (Missouri Southern State) ran into trouble first as Jimmy Nugent homered to left field to start the fourth inning. The Bucks added another run in the frame on a throwing error to take a 2-0 lead.

Otto Franz (Concordia University (TX)) relieved Mattingly in the fifth and got an out to end the inning but struggled in the sixth. Waterloo hit three straight singles to start the inning to score one and a second run came home on a sacrifice fly later in the frame to take a 4-0 lead.

Zach Diver (Doane) surrendered the fifth Bucks run of the game in the seventh but limited the damage there, finishing with two innings pitched and one earned run.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 31, 2025


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