FOND DU LAC, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters scored six unanswered runs over the final three innings to sweep the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, 12-6, at Witter Field on Tuesday night. The loss puts the Dock Spiders two games out of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
With the loss, the Dock Spiders fell to 34-33 on the year, two games behind the Wausau Woodchucks, who finished a three-game sweep of the Lakeshore Chinooks tonight. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters wrapped up the Great Lakes West Division second-half title with the win and improved to 54-14.
For the fourth straight game, the Dock Spiders scored first and brought home two in the second off RBI singles from Brady Katterhagen (UW-Platteville) and Tyeler Hawkins (Louisville). They then expanded the lead to 5-0 with a two-run home run from Andrew Sojka (CSUN) to center and an RBI double from Bennett Thompson (Oregon).
Dock Spiders starter Logan Tabeling (Illinois) burned through the Rafters order in the first two innings and struck out six without allowing a hit. In the third, however, the Rafters got to him. After two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, Colin Tuft (Virginia) brought home one on an RBI single, and an error on the play scored another to make it 5-2. Then, a wild pitch would bring home Tuft after Jacob Igawa (Hawaii) brought home a run on a groundout. With the game at 5-4, Garrett Broussard (Utah Valley) lined a single to right to give the Rafters a 6-5 lead.
The Dock Spiders staged a comeback in the sixth to tie it up off an error, two singles, and a wild pitch to score Hawkins. The Rafters then exploded for four runs in the sixth after five of the first six batters reached, capped off by a two-run double from Tuft to being home his second and third RBI of the night.
In the eighth, the Rafters tacked on two more with a two-run double from Cael Chatham (High Point) to extend the lead to 12-6.
Logan Schulfer (7-1, Ball State) earned the win after three relief innings while Tabeling (0-2) took the loss. The Dock Spiders return home tomorrow night for the start of a two-game series against the Lakeshore Chinooks at Herr-Baker Field. Tomorrow night is the final Bang For Your Buck presented by Brew Pub Pizza. Fans can enjoy hot dogs, Brew Pub Pizza slices, 16 oz. Pepsi products, and 16 oz. domestic beers (for those of legal drinking age) for $2 each. 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.
