FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (19-15, 0-0) begin the second half of the season against the Kokomo Jackrabbits (10-25, 0-0) at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 5:20 p.m. with pregame before first pitch at 5:35 on the Dock Spiders Radio Network.

TODAY’S STORYLINES

WELCOME TO THE OTHER SIDE: Today’s game marks the start of the second half of the regular season. Every team starts with a 0-0 record today, with the next stretch of game set to decide the final four playoff spots in the Northwoods League Playoffs. The Kamalazoo Growlers, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, Duluth Huskies and St. Cloud Rox have all clinched a playoff berth by way of winning the first half title in their division. If the same team repeats as the second half champion, the best overall record in the division will make the playoffs as a wild card team.

DIDN’T WE DO THIS LAST WEEK?: After the Dock Spiders swept the Kokomo Jackrabbits in a two-game series last week at Herr-Baker Field, the two are set to start a two-game set tonight at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Over the two-game series, the Dock Spiders outscored the Jackrabbits 19-4 and drew 16 walks. The Dock Spiders enter today on a four-game winning streak, while the Jackrabbits come into today off a series split with the Battle Creek Battle Jacks.

JULY 4 FIREWORKS: The Dock Spiders ran their winning streak to four straight after a 10-4 win against the Madison Mallards at home on Monday. The Dock Spiders stole a season-high seven bases, including two from OF Evan Smith. At the plate, OF Nick Mitchell (3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, BB), INF Parker Noland (3-4, 2 RBI, BB) and OF Kyte McDonald (3-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) helped to pace the offense. On the mound, RHP Andrew Pogue helped lead the bullpen with five strikeouts over two innings as the bullpen shut down Madison’s lineup over the final four innings.

GOING BACK-TO-BACK: After OF Kyte McDonald’s 3-5 day, he was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night for July 4. It marked the second straight night a Dock Spider was honored by the league after RHP Reed Gallant took home Pitcher of the Night on Sunday after seven strikeouts in four relief innings.

NICKY THREE-HITS: OF Nick Mitchell enters today after a six-hit, six-RBI two-game span against the Madison Mallards. Over his last three-games, Mitchell is 8-12 with two doubles, two triples and six RBI. His 12 multi-hit games leads all Dock Spiders hitters.

NOLAND NUMBERS: With a three-hit game on Sunday, Dock Spiders C/INF Parker Noland continued his torrid start to the summer, as he collected seventh multi-hit game in his 10th game. He’s collected multiple hits in each of his last five starts, and is hitting .571 (12-21) over that span with four doubles.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP JOSH CULLIVER (FDL) will get the start for the Dock Spiders after he lasted a season-low one inning on June 30 against Kalamazoo. In his last road start, he needed 17 pitches to get through the first two innings against the Growlers.

LHP REECE MARLEY (KMO) is set to make his fifth start of the year. The lefty out of Case Western Reserve has allowed three runs or less in three of his five starts. He set a season-high with 4.2 innings and four strikeouts in his first start on June 2 against Kenosha, his only home start of the year.