FOND DU LAC, WI – After falling in their last three games, the Dock Spiders got a much-needed victory on Saturday as they routed the Loggers to win 10-2.
The Dock Spiders (5-5) started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning after Tim Elko (University of Mississippi) sent a hard line drive into right field that scored Andrew Bullock (Charleston Southern University) and John Rhodes (University of Kentucky) to put Fondy in front 2-0.
Another run came in to score for Fond du Lac in the bottom of the fourth after Ryan Ritter (University of Kentucky) scored his teammate, John Rhodes from third on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
The Loggers (5-6) scored their first run in the top of the fifth inning after Andrew Meggs (Creighton University) hit a sacrifice fly to score a run that made it 3-1.
Jason Hodges (University of Arkansas) brought in the second and last run for the Loggers in the top of the sixth that drew La Crosse to within one at the time.
It was all Dock Spiders after that, as they scored seven runs in the last two innings of the contest. Ritter got things going in the bottom of the sixth with a line drive double into left field. Sam Novitske (University of Oregon) then stepped in and lined a single to center field that put runners at the corners. Ritter came in to score after Parker Noland (Vanderbilt University) dropped a base hit into right field that extended the Dock Spiders lead to 4-2.
Two more runs came in to score after Aaron Anderson (Liberty University) launched a double into right-center field that made it a 6-2 Fond du Lac lead. Rhodes would make it 7-2 on a line drive that went off the pitcher and into foul territory that allowed Anderson to score from third.
The Dock Spiders had one more inning of fun in the eighth that started with a pinch-hit double from Victor Scott II (West Virginia University). Rhodes made it a four-for-five night at the plate with a single into right that brought in Scott II and made it 8-2.
Ritter added to his huge night in the box with a line drive single to center field that scored Bullock and Rhodes to make it a 10-2 Dock Spiders lead. Ritter registered three RBI in a three-for-four night at the plate.
Drew Irvine (University of Iowa) came in in the eighth and stayed in to close the game in the ninth, drawing a grounder to Novitske that started 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
Jake Saum (UCLA) struck out two batters in two innings after getting the start on the mound. Getting the win in Saturday’s game was Ryan Loutos (Washington University in St. Louis), who threw two and two-thirds innings and gave up only one run on three hits. Ryan Duffy (University of Minnesota) went two and one-thirds innings and gave up just one run on three hits. Duffy was credited with a hold in the win. Irvine threw two no-hit innings and struck out three batters to help the Dock Spiders to a 10-2 win.
Fond du Lac will close out their three-game homestand with a 1:05 pm game against the Loggers on Sunday the 12th.
