Rox Stifle Express Comeback Attempt, Split Series in Eau Claire

June 30, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
St. Cloud Rox News Release

Nate Swarts takes a swing for the St. Cloud Rox
(St. Cloud Rox)

Eau Claire, WI - At one point on Tuesday, St. Cloud (21-7) led by eight runs, but had to fight off Eau Claire (11-19) late to pull out the 9-8 victory.

The Rox erupted in the third inning as the first eight batters all came around to score. Justin Van De Brake (Washington State) brought in his first runs of the season with a two-RBI single to left-center field.

The big swing came from another Washington State Cougar, Nate Swarts, who hit a three-run home run over the left-field fence to extend the Rox' lead to 8-0 early in the game.

However, the next seven runs all came from the Express to make it a one-run game heading into the eighth inning. The Rox were able to extend the lead after Otto Kemp (Point Loma Nazarene) brought in Andrew Pinckney (Alabama) from third. Pinckney had just hit his league-leading third triple with one out in the inning.

The Rox bullpen was under pressure all night long, but Connor Barison (Washington State) saved the day with one and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball out of the pen. After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, Barison shut it down in the ninth with three straight punchouts.

For a full box score from Tuesday's game, click here.

The Rox bounced back after having their record-breaking 12-game winning streak snapped on Monday. St. Cloud has now won 19 of its last 22 games and leads the Great Plains West with four games left in the first half.

Now, St. Cloud returns home for a massive series with the Mankato MoonDogs, who sit just one game behind the Rox in the Great Plains West. First pitch from Joe Faber Field on Wednesday will be at 7:05 pm.

Images from this story

Nate Swarts takes a swing for the St. Cloud Rox

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