Blue Thunder fall in extra innings

EAU CLAIRE, WIS. -- It took extra innings but the Eau Claire Express captured the program's first three-game winning streak at the expense of the Brainerd Blue Thunder Wednesday in Northwoods League baseball.

Eau Claire's Joe Dempsey hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th to lead the Express to a 5-4 victory.

Eau Claire 5, Brainerd 4

Key: Eau Claire's Joe Dempsey had a game winning single in the 10th to help the Express to its first ever three-game winning streak.

Record: Brd 10-8 (24-26), EC 6-11 (20-31)

Next game: Brainerd at Eau Claire, Wis., 7:05 p.m. Thursday.

Brainerd took a one-run lead into the bottom of the 10th, but the Express scored twice to win it.

Brainerd's Alex Bardegueza was 2-for-2 with three RBI as the Blue Thunder rallied with two runs in the eighth to tie it 3-3.

Brandon Magee's solid start was voided. He pitched eight-plus innings allowing 10 hits and two earned runs. He struck out nine. Gerrard Breslin picked up the loss for Brainerd.

Brainerd 001 000 020 1 -- 4 11 2

Eau Claire 100 100 100 2 -- 5 12 0

Brainerd -- Brandon Magee, Kai Tuomi (9), Gerrard Breslin (10) and Lars Davis. Eau Claire -- Joe Skinner, Todd Lorenz (8), Jon Huber (9). W -- Huber 4-4. L -- Bresline 5-5.

2B -- Brd-Markus Freiske, EC-Erich Diedrich. SB -- Brd-Freiske, Chad Weiss. Sac -- Brd-Joey Tautges, EC-Mark Hallberg, Ian Hollick, Jeremy Chlan. RBI -- Brd-Alex Bardeguez 3, Chad Weiss 1; EC-Hollberg, Joe Dempsey, Jake Frombach 1, Brian Joynt 1. LOB -- Brd 10, EC 15. DP -- Brd 3.

Time -- 3:39. Attendance -- 965.