FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders used a multi-run sixth inning for the second day in a row to beat the Wausau Woodchucks 10-2 in Wausau to start 2-0.
Four Dock Spiders pitchers combined to strike out nine Woodchucks batters, while they limited Wausau to a single run in the seventh and the ninth.
The Dock Spiders worked 12 walks at the plate, and saw 192 pitches while also tallying double-digit runs for the second straight day. Luke Novitske (Cal State East Bay) led the way with three RBI, including a two-run single to put the Dock Spiders ahead 5-0 in the sixth inning. On the base paths, the Dock Spiders tallied five stolen bases led by Alejandro Macario’s (Nova Southeastern) steal of second and third in the first inning.
“We talked about hunting zones and getting your pitch,” said hitting coach Tyler Caserta about the approach at the plate. “When you do get your pitch, don’t miss it.”
The Dock Spiders provided the run support early, as Tommy Stephenson (Missouri Southern State) drove home a run in the first to help give Fond du Lac a lead after one for the second day in a row. Stephen Schissler (Nova Southeastern) then threw three shutout innings in his third career start and struck out three batters.
In the sixth inning, nine batters went to the plate, with four runs scored off singles from Cole Messina (South Carolina), Evan Stone (South Carolina) and Novitske. Then, the Dock Spiders tallied five runs in the seventh with 11 batters sent to the plate and just one hit. They used five walks, a hit batter and an error to bring the lead to 10-0.
Reed Gallant (Rice) tallied the win in his first appearance of the summer, striking out four in three innings.
With the win, the Dock Spiders improve to 2-0 on the season, and end their first series with 21 runs scored and four runs allowed, the best run differential in the Northwoods League at plus-17.
The Dock Spiders will travel to Green Bay tomorrow night to take on the Green Bay Rockers at 6:35 p.m.
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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit dockspiders.com 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.
