FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (26-23, 7-8) are set to take on the Wausau Woodchucks (26-24, 9-5) in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 1:05 p.m. at Herr-Baker Field. The doubleheader was necessatated after last night’s game was rained out. In game one, the Dock Spiders will wear their Hispanic Heritage Night jerseys, which are currently available for auction to benefit the Moraine Park Foundation. The first 500 fans will also receive an Andrew Bullock bobblehead courtesy of Fleet Farm to kick off “Andrew Bullock Appreciation Week” at Herr-Baker Field. Game one of today’s doubleheader can be seen on ESPN+, and game two can be viewed on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: Today’s game with the Woodchucks marks the first meeting between the two teams since June 26, when the Dock Spiders beat the Woodchucks 14-4 at Herr-Baker Field. That Sunday afternoon saw C Cole Messina post a career-high seven-RBI game. The Woodchucks enter today a half-game behind the Dock Spiders for the second-best overall record in the division.
DÍA DE LAS Arañas: During game one of today’s doubleheader, the Dock Spiders will transform into the Arañas de Muelle de Fond du Lac in honor of Hispanic Heritage Night. The Dock Spiders will wear special alternate jerseys and hats that will be available through an auction to benefit the Moraine Park Foundation.
EVAN SMITH, HERO: For the third consecutive game, the Dock Spiders went into extras, this time winning on a walk-off from OF Evan Smith in the 10th inning. His one-out double to the wall in right scored 1B Andrew Rivas to give the Dock Spiders a 2-1 win over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The walk-off was the first of the season for the Dock Spiders, and their first since August 13, 2021, against the Wausau Woodchucks. That night, SS Nick Terrell lined a two-RBI single to give the Dock Spiders an 8-7 win in 11 innings.
THAT BALL IS CRUSHED: INF Branden Comia smashed a game-tying 411′ home run on Friday night, the farthest home run hit by a Dock Spiders player in 2022. Comia’s home run was the third-farthest in the Northwoods League this year and came off the bat at 99 MPH. The home run was also the farthest hit by a Dock Spiders player this year. In the next at-bat, OF Kemp Alderman lined a single to left at 111 MPH, the sixth-hardest hit ball in the NWL this year. This season, Comia leads the Dock Spiders with a 57% Hard-Hit Percentage, which measured the percent of batted balls with an exit velocity above 95 MPH.
GAME ONE STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP JOSH CULLIVER (FDL) goes for the Dock Spiders after he tied his season-high with four innings pitched on July 12 against the Madison Mallards. Over his last two starts, Culliver has allowed three runs over eight innings with nine strikeouts.
RHP AIDAN MAJOR (WAU) makes his sixth start of the year for the Woodchucks. In his last appearance against the Dock Spiders on June 12, Major allowed one run over four innings of work. Today marks his third road start of the year.
GAME TWO STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
LHP AIDAN McEVOY (FDL) makes his second start of the summer after he struck out five over four innings in his last start on Sunday against Battle Creek. After he allowed two runs in the first, he retired 11 of the final 13 batters that he faced. Today also marks his first home appearance of the season.
LHP NATE MADEJ (WAU) is set to make his fourth start of the year and his first start after he threw a season-high five innings in his last start against Wisconsin Rapids. In his last three appearances, Madej has a 9.61 ERA in 10.1 innings.
