EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – The Eau Claire Express have knocked the Thunder Bay Border Cats out of top spot in the Great Plains East.
The host Express put up multiple runs in four of the first five innings on Friday night and rolled to a 16-6 triumph, handing the Border Cats their fifth loss in six games as they near the midpoint of their epic 14-game road trip.
Ethan Farris homered and drove in five runs and Colton Wernhoff also went deep for Eau Claire, plating three more scores.
Thunder Bay starter Mason Lemons was unable to escape the fourth inning, tagged for eight runs on 10 hits and four walks. His replacement, Colin Slivka, was only good for a single out, the Express erupting for five more runs on two hits, a walk and two hit batsmen.
The loss spoiled another great performance by Thunder Bay designated hitter Jackson Cooke, who blasted two home runs and drove in six runs.
Cooke, who had two hits in the recent Northwoods League all-star game, tied Cole Ketzner for the team lead with eight home runs, one shy of the franchise single-season record. He’s up to 38 RBI on the season.
Cooke doubled in a pair in the first off Eau Claire starter Logan Jones, then homered in the fifth and ninth.
Jones lasted five innings for the Express, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks, and was credited with the win. Lemons took the loss, falling to 1-3 on the season.
The loss drops the Border Cats (12-10) a half game behind Duluth, who edged the Minnesota Mud Puppies 6-5 on Friday night to take sole possession of first place in the division.
Thunder Bay travels to St. Cloud (17-6) on Saturday for a 7:05 p.m. EDT start.
