FOND DU LAC, WI – The Dock Spiders (11-10) held the Rockford Rivets (12-9) scoreless through six innings on Wednesday night, but a five-run outburst in the seventh pushed the Rivets to a 5-3 win in game one of the two-game set.
Dock Spiders newcomer Marcos Sanchez (Texas Wesleyan University) recorded his first hit in the second, a single into center field, followed by a walk to Andrew McKenna (Santa Barbara City College). Sanchez tagged and advanced on a flyout, and came in to score after Victor Scott II (West Virginia University) dropped a hit into left for an RBI-double to put the Dock Spiders up 1-0.
Scott II got things started again for Fond du Lac in the fifth inning, reaching on a fielding error to lead off the bottom half. Scott II stole second base, his eighth of the season, and made it to third after the throw down to second sailed into center field. Sam Novitske (University of Oregon) sent a fly ball into right-center field the very next pitch, a sacrifice fly that allowed Scott II to tag from third and score easily to make it 2-0 Dock Spiders.
Jake Carr (West Virginia University) put in a great performance in his second time around facing the Rivets, striking out six batters in six innings while only allowing two hits. Carr held Rockford scoreless in all six innings of his work.
The Dock Spiders went to the bullpen to start the seventh, going to Grant Leonard (University of Iowa) to try and keep the Rivets off the board. The pitching change was the start of a full momentum shift that worked in favor of Rockford, as they batted around their order and scored five runs on six hits.
Alex Vera (University of Illinois) came in with one out in the top of the seventh to try and keep the Dock Spiders within striking distance and was able to get out of the jam. Vera finished his night with an inning and a third of work with only two hits allowed and four strikeouts.
It appeared the momentum was working back Fondy’s way, as McKenna and Ryan Ritter (University of Kentucky) both reached in the bottom of the seventh to start the inning, but a double play from the Rivets quickly shut the door on the Dock Spiders and kept them down three runs.
The bottom of the eighth had a similar start, with John Rhodes (University of Kentucky) and Tim Elko (University of Mississippi) reaching to start the inning. With two runners on, the Rivets again turned a backbreaking double play that took the wind out of the Dock Spiders’ sails and killed the momentum.
Rhodes would come in to score on a fielding error on an Aaron Anderson (Liberty University) ground ball to make it a two-run deficit, but the Rivets kept Fondy off the board in the ninth to get the 5-3 win and move into first place in the East Division.
The Dock Spiders will try and split the homestand and climb back into a tie at the top of the division with a 6:35 pm start against the Rivets tonight. Tickets are still available for the game, which is “Craft Brews and Brats” night, which features $2 craft brews and Johnsonville brats for the duration of the game. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or at the box office at the ballpark.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26th season, the Northwoods 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 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.
