Border Cats double up Express

The Border Cats bats are alive and well in Eau Claire.

The Cats rapped out 15 hits on Sunday night, doubling up the host Express 10-5 as their eight-game road trip reached its midway point.

Dan Rizzie, with his first of the season, and Max Dutto, with his fourth, homered for Thunder Bay. Starter Cole Stapler (W, 4-2), tossed seven innings of eight-hit ball to pick up the victory, giving up four earned runs.

Thunder Bay led 6-2 through five innings, scoring at least a run in all but the second to that point.

Eau Claire starter C.J. Eldred, son of former major league pitcher Cal Eldred, tossed seven innings and surrendered 13 of the Border Cats 15 hits and seven earned runs.

Kyle Marinconz and Nathan Krause homered for Eau Claire.

The Cats (13-18) climbed into seventh place in the North Division standings, moving past Mankato by half a game. Eau Claire fell to 14-17.

Thunder Bay travels to Waterloo on Monday to take on the Bucks, losers of nine straight.