
Rain Doesn't Stop Eau Claire from Picking up W
June 24, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Eau Claire Express News Release
Eau Claire, WI - In a game that lasted over 5 hours, the Express pulled out an improbable victory vs. the visiting Duluth Huskies, winning 10-9.
Things looked bleak for Eau Claire as clouds of rain and thunder descended on Carson Park midway through the 3rd inning. Duluth, already up by 2 was en route to scoring 5 in the top of this inning, on 3 homers, putting them up by 7 early in the ballgame.
As the rain picked up, play was paused and the two teams waited out the worst of the storm for the better part of 2 hours. After the storm settled and the infield was dry, however, both teams were back in action.
It appeared that this lengthy rest was just what the doctor ordered for the Express, as the Men in Orange came out of the break fired up and ready to go. In the bottom of the 4th, the scoring train started on a Tanner Sagouspe (Cal Poly) single that brought Dylan O'Connell (St. Thomas) home. A couple more runs were added, which gave the home crowd that stuck around something to hope for.
Slowly but surely, the Express continued tacking runs on the board and creeping back up on the Huskies, who stagnated at 9 runs on the night. Pivotal offensive points of the game in these later innings were a Home Run by Ryan Nagelbach (UIC), and a 2-RBI blast from Nate Witte (UW-Eau Claire). Both of these two shots, paired with solid relief pitching from Jacob Taggart (Utah Tech) helped the team cruise through the second half of the game and sneak back into contention, as they went up 10-9 heading into the top of the 9th inning.
Duluth's final hopes of regaining the lead were squashed the second that closer Matt Helwig (Lewis) took the mound. He only needed to face 3 Husky batters, as he struck out the side, and recorded his 4th save of the year, and the Trains won the ball game.
The Express will be on the road tomorrow afternoon in a game against the Duluth Huskies at Wade Stadium beginning at 3:05 pm CT. Be sure to watch the team on the Northwoods League Website, or listen along on 106.7 FM-Moose Country.
Northwoods League Stories from June 24, 2023
- Dock Spiders' Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Chinooks 8-6 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Border Cats Beat Loggers 8-3 After Second Weekend Rain Delay - La Crosse Loggers
- Rain Doesn't Stop Eau Claire from Picking up W - Eau Claire Express
- MoonDogs Chip Away at Rox - Mankato MoonDogs
- Extra-Inning Battle Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion, Stingers Fall to Honkers 5-4 - Willmar Stingers
- Offense Explodes Early, Mallards Tied for First in West - Madison Mallards
- Chinooks Get Contributions from Everyone to Win Second Straight - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Mallards Flock the Pit Spitters - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Kingfish Defeat Rockers 2-1, Reel in Fourth Straight Victory - Kenosha Kingfish
- Kokomo Walks off Wausau, Wins 6-5 in Tenth - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rafters Shut Out In Game 1 At Battle Creek - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Rox Batters Collect Eight Hits in Game One Against Mankato - Rox Return Home Versus MoonDogs Tomorrow - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Fall at Home to Kingfish Saturday Night - Green Bay Rockers
- Rockford Rivets Unable to Overcome Kokomo Jackrabbits in Low-Scoring Battle - Rockford Rivets
- Kingfish Top Battle Jacks to Win Series - Kenosha Kingfish
- Weather Update - Rochester Honkers
- Rockers Back at Home to Host Kenosha Kingfish - Green Bay Rockers
- Former Chinook, Grant Hartwig, Debuts with Mets - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Beat Battle Jacks 8-6, Stave off Late Battle Jacks Rally to Win Series - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Dock Spiders Toppled by Rafters, Fall 3-1 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
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