Rain Doesn't Stop Express from Picking up W
July 29, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Eau Claire Express News Release
Eau Claire, WI - In a game that ended early due to rain, the Express found themselves on the right side of the shortened battle, winning 7-2.
Kale Hopke (NDSU) took the mound as the dark clouds settled over Carson Park. Luckily for Eau Claire, this foreboding weather did not spell trouble for the home team. Hopke's outing was a good one, as he went for 5 innings, and gave up just 2 runs on 2 hits, with 6 Ks. His 5 innings of winning baseball earned him the W in the score column tonight, as Eau Claire only had to use one other pitcher in Coby Moe (Western Kentucky).
Offensively, the Trains made their mark in just two innings, scoring 3 in the first, and 4 in the fourth. A good chunk of the runs came on a 3rd-inning Marcus Cline (Tulane) Triple, which drove in a couple early on. Cline's line on the night was 2-3 with 3 RBI, which earned him tonight's "Player of the Game" honors.
For Minot, they were unable to get anything going, save for a 3-hit top of the sixth inning. Unfortunately for the Hot Tots, their offensive spark was too little too late, when they recorded the final out of the top of that inning.
As the final Tot batter was retired in the inning, a swell of storms broke out in the area, wreaking havoc on the sand of the infield. The water and wind that looked as if it could strike at any moment throughout the night finally gave way and doused the field.
It was clear after a short time that the surface was no longer playable, and the rain would continue to rage on for the better part of the evening. Because of this, per Northwoods League rules, 5 innings of baseball had already been played, so the game was ruled official. It would go down as a 7-2 victory for the Express.
The Express will remain in Eau Claire Friday night for their final matchup against the Minot Hot Tots. They will look to secure the win, earning them the series sweep. First pitch at Carson Park will be thrown at 7:05 pm CT. Following the completion of the game, there will be postgame fireworks for all fans in attendance. Be sure to come out to the ballpark and see the final Fireworks show at the ballpark of the summer, you won't want to miss it!
• Discuss this story on the Northwoods League message board...
Northwoods League Stories from July 29, 2023
- Motorboaters Cruise Past Honkers in Comeback Fashion - Bismarck Larks
- Dock Spiders Edge Mallards in 11 Innings 4-3 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rain Doesn't Stop Express from Picking up W - Eau Claire Express
- Dogs Fall in Extra Innings - Mankato MoonDogs
- Late Game Heroics From McRae and Adams Lead Battle Jacks Over Jackrabbits 8-7 - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Jackrabbits Edge Out Battle Jacks 5-4, Surge Late to Win a Competitive Great Lakes East Bout - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Chinooks Snap Losing Streak In Comeback Win Over Woodchucks - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Lakeshore Drops Seventh Straight Game - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kalamazoo Drops Ten-Inning Thriller Up Against Rockford - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Growlers Split Series with Rival Pit Spitters - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Chinooks Fall to Dock Spiders for Sixth Straight Loss - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Loggers Keep Pace, Beat MoonDogs 6-1 - La Crosse Loggers
- Larks Walk off Wacky Game on Hill's Hit-By-Pitch - Bismarck Larks
- Northwoods League Announces Great Plains All-Star Home Run Challenge Participants - Eau Claire Express
- Honkers Lose Longest Nine-Inning Game in Northwoods History - Rochester Honkers
- Honkers Allow 7-Run 8th, Lose 8-5 - Rochester Honkers
- Dogs Drop 2 in La Crosse - Mankato MoonDogs
- MoonDogs Fall to Loggers in La Crosse - Mankato MoonDogs
- Rockford Rivets Suffer Walk-off Loss to Kokomo Jackrabbits in Hard-Fought Series Opener - Rockford Rivets
- Rockford Rivets Win Crucial Series Against Kalamazoo, Rallying To A 9-6 Victory - Rockford Rivets
- Rockford Rivets Beat the Growlers in Extra Innings, Claiming Game 1 of the Series - Rockford Rivets
- Late Comeback Effort Falls Flat for Stingers, Fall to Bucks 6-2 in Series Opener - Willmar Stingers
- Sluggish Game for Wisconsin Rapids, Fall to the Rockers - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Wausau Commits Eight Errors, Falls to Lakeshore 9-8 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Madison Can't Find Recipe for Extras, Stumbles Again - Madison Mallards
- Rox Roll to 10-4 Win, Conclude Home Stand Sunday - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Defeat Rafters to Win Second Straight Game - Green Bay Rockers
- Rockers Continue Four-Game Homestand against Rafters - Green Bay Rockers
- Weather Results in Early Finish, Series Split in Green Bay - Madison Mallards
- Dock Spiders Win Second Straight, Pummel Chinooks 10-4 - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
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.
