FOND DU LAC, WI- The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (12-8) did not lose a step on their off day as they defeated the Wisconsin Woodchucks (6-15) for the third time this season 5-2.
Jon Mierzwa (Catholic) started on the mound for the Spiders and retired the side three straight times to start the ball game. On the first 9 batters he faced, he struck out 6 of them, 4 of which came on swings.
Fondy got the first run of the game when Andrew Bullock (Western Carolina) grounded into a 6-3 putout with one out which sent the first run of the ball game home and on the side of the home team.
It would be the Chesapeake, VA native once again driving in a run when he hit an RBI single into right center field which drove home the Dock Spiders second run. For Bullock, he is now 8/19 vs. Wisconsin this season and when asked about his success against the Woodchucks he added, “I’m not sure what it is about them but, whenever we face them I always seem to play my best games. They have a good team over there regardless of their record and usually run out good arms every night so I guess I just tend to lock in a little more against them because I know every at bat is going to be a challenge.”
The 2-0 lead for Fond du Lac would not hold for long as the Woodchucks were able to pick up runs in back to back innings, one in the 4th and one in the 5th.
Already 3/3 on the night, Mitch Boe (Iowa), stood at the plate in the 7th inning with 2 runners on base. The Woodchucks brought in LHP, Zach De La Garza (St. Marys), to get the lefty left matchup. Boe who was hitless against left handed pitchers this season ripped one past the second baseman which drove in 2 runs for a 4-1 lead. When asked about breaking the barrier against LHP’s this summer Boe said, “The plan was to get something I can drive. I was feeling confident up at the plate and I got a pitch I could handle and I took advantage of it.”
Well the Dock Spiders took advantage one inning later when the Woodchucks pitcher sailed a pitch that was ruled as a wild pitch that got away from the catcher and sent in the 5th run of the ball game.
Zach Bryant (Daytona State) would end up closing out the game in the bottom of the 9th striking out the last two batters. Nico Tellache (Oregon) made his debut in front of the Fondy Faithful and impressed throwing 3 1/3 innings just allowing 2 hits on 11 batters faced to go with 4 strikeouts.
Fond du Lac is now 7-2 at home this season and will square off against the Wisconsin Woodchucks Wednesday at home. First pitch is at 6:35 PM.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff,more than 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.dockspiders.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Dock Spiders as your favorite team.
