FOND DU LAC, WI– The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (12-12) and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-9) avoided the slugfest today in a 6-4 battle till the end.
Aaron Funk (Arkansas Little-Rock) went six strong innings only allowing two runs, while striking out nine batters. He has now struck out 20 in his last two outings.
The Rafters would strike first in the third, but the Dock Spiders answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Sam Novitske (Oregon) brought home a run on an RBI single to tie it up.
Aaron Anderson (Flagler) would bring home Novitske with an RBI single and take the lead 2-1. Another run in the fourth would come across off a wild pitch and would lead 3-1.
The Rafters would close the gap in the sixth with a run coming across and making it 3-2. A two run seventh by the Dock Spiders would make it 5-2.
A bases loaded walk to Charlie Maxwell (Northwestern) would bring home the first of the inning. Followed by a sacrifice fly from Luke Robinson (Western Carolina) to bring home the final run of the inning.
After closing the gap to one run again in the eighth, the Dock Spiders would add an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. A double by Novitske would be followed up with an RBI double by Zack Prajzner (Notre Dame).
With a 6-4 lead into the ninth, it was Andrew Neu (Madison) coming into close. He would roll a game-ending double play ball.
The Dock Spiders have the day off tomorrow, but are back at it Tuesday at 6:35 PM against the Lakeshore Chinooks. It’ll be the final time the Chinooks travel to Fond du Lac.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 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 (MIA). All league games are viewable live via theNorthwoods 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.