FOND DU LAC, WI –The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders fell 24-7 against the Kalamazoo Growlers at Herr-Baker Field on Thursday night. With the win, the Growlers clinched the Great Lakes East Division First Half title.
The Dock Spiders dropped to 15-15 on the season, while the Growlers won their 20th game of the year, and improved to 20-12. The Growlers also took the season series against the Dock Spiders, winning three of the four games.
Both Parker Noland (Vanderbilt) and Jackson Loftin (Oral Roberts) tallied a multi-hit game for the Dock Spiders, as the team also drew 12 walks on the night, one shy of their season-high.
The Growlers scored in six of their nine offensive innings, and scored six runs in each of the first, third and seventh innings. The Dock Spiders tallied four runs in the first and three more in the fifth that saw a two-run single from Noland.
Kalamazoo exploded on offense in the top of the first inning, as they took a 6-0 lead off five hits, which included a three-run home run from Cole Russo (Central Florida). Russo also tallied a triple, single and a double to become the 16th player in Northwoods League history, and first player in Growlers history, to hit for the cycle. The Dock Spiders battled back with a four-run first before Kalamazoo scored nine unanswered runs to put the game out of reach.
The Dock Spiders are back at Herr-Baker Field tomorrow night to open a two-game series against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. First pitch is scheduled for 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.
