FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (22-19, 3-4) return home to take on the Madison Mallards (20-22, 2-4) during Wisconsin Night at Herr-Baker Field. Fans won’t want to miss the opportunity to see former men’s basketball standout Ben Brust. He will sign autographs and meet with fans during tonight’s game. It’s also Bang For Your Buck Night presented by Brew Pub Pizza. Fans can enjoy hot dogs, Brew Pub Pizza slices, 16 oz. Pepsi products, and 16 oz. domestic beers for $2 each.
Brust was a four-year player with the Badgers, starting 73 games in his final two years with the program. He helped the Badgers reach the Final Four in 2014 during his senior year. Brust graduated as one of the most prolific deep-threats in Badger history, graduating with a school-record 235 three-pointers. He also hit one of the most memorable shots in Badger history, as he hit a half-court shot against third-ranked Michigan to force overtime during the 2012/13 season.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., and gates open at 5:30 p.m. Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
SPIDERS VS. DUCKS: Today marks the first of two straight games between the Dock Spiders and Madison Mallards, split between Herr-Baker Field and Warner Park. Over the last two meetings between the two teams, which finished the first half, the Dock Spiders outscored the Mallards 22-6. OF Nick Mitchell (12-22, 10 RBI) and C/INF Parker Noland (5-8, 2 RBI) have helped lead the Dock Spiders offense to an average of 7.3 runs per game against the Mallards, over a half run better than their season average, which sits top-five in the Northwoods League.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: OF Andrew Sojka tallied the ninth multi-home-run game in Dock Spiders history on Monday night at Wisconsin Rapids with a homer in each of his final two at-bats. Sojka’s two homer night was the first by a Dock Spiders player since INF Jackson Loftin went yard twice on July 9, 2021 against Madison. It was also the first by a Dock Spider at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids since July 10, 2019 when 1B Tim Elko reached the mark. No Dock Spiders player has ever hit three home runs in a game.
FOUR ISN’T A COINCIDENCE: With a two-run homer on Monday night against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, 1B Grant Hussey smashed his team-leading fourth home run of the year, all of which have come in the first inning with two outs. The homer was Hussey’s first with a runner on-base, as his previous three had all come with two outs and no one on in the first. Three of Hussey’s four home runs this year have come at Witter Field. On the Rafters, just two players have hit at least three at home; OF Seth Stroh and INF Brendan Bobo.
HELLO DRAFT DAY: The 2022 MLB Draft is set to begin on Sunday with the first of 20 rounds held between July 17-19. Former Dock Spiders INF Chandler Simpson is currently ranked as the 88th-best prospect in the draft by Baseball America, the highest out of any draft eligible Dock Spider. Simpson broke the NWL single-season stolen base record with 55 in 2021, and was named the Great Lakes Division Co-MVP. Former Dock Spiders OF Victor Scott (#191) and RHP Derek Diamond (#209) are also both ranked in the Baseball America Top-500 list. Over the six-year history of the Dock Spiders, 20 former players have been drafted, including OF John Rhodes, who was the highest Dock Spider ever drafted when the Orioles selected him in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Both OF Nick Mitchell and 1B Grant Hussey were selected to the 2022 Northwoods League All-Star game, held at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday, July 19. Mitchell and Hussey are set to become the 11th and 12th Dock Spiders to play in the NWL All-Star Game in franchise history (since 2017).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP
RHP JOSH CULLIVER (FDL) is set to start for the Dock Spiders after he struck out a season-high five in his last start against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. The Minnesota righty makes his second home start of the year and second start against the Mallards.
RHP THOMAS ELLISEN (MAD) will make his second start of the year after 10 appearances out of the bullpen. In three relief appearances against the Dock Spiders, Ellisen has allowed three runs, but has struck out eight over 5.1 innings.
