FOND DU LAC, WI – If you’re a fan of the longball, then this game was for you. After the Dock Spiders only had two hits on Monday night against the Mallards, it was unclear what the offense would do today. The Dock Spiders brought their bats and took their Wheaties this morning as they registered a season high number of hits and runs after they scored 15 runs on 20 hits, three of those hits were via home runs. However, the day didn’t start out the way the Dock Spiders were hoping it would. Starting pitcher Logan Eisenbarth (Wisconsin-Whitewater) struggled early as he gave up a two-run home run to Mallards second basemen Ryan Sprock (Elon), and then another run scored on an RBI single from catcher Canyon Brown which made the score 3-0 Mallards after the first inning.
Eisenbarth was pulled from the game to start the bottom of the second. Relief pitcher Mason Hill (Aquinas College) was called upon from the Dock Spiders bullpen to cool the Mallards offense off and he did just that. Hill went five and one thirds innings pitched, tallying three strikeouts and was able to keep the Mallards offense at bay for a handful of innings. The Dock Spiders offense came alive in the top of the fifth using back-to-back home runs from centerfielder Jared Heinzen (Wisconsin Parkside) and second basemen Jack Gorman (Presbyterian) to bring the Dock Spiders within one run.
Then in the top of the sixth, the Dock Spiders struck again as they used an RBI single from designated hitter Brady Katterhagen (Wisconsin-Platteville) which scored Jack Peterson (Trinity) and then later in the inning, third basemen Jake Surane (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) that scored shortstop Jacob Anderson that gave the Dock Spiders a 4-3 lead. Then everything got crazy. In the bottom of the sixth, the Mallards used a sacrifice fly from first basemen Jake Goolsby (Charlotte) to tie the game at 4-4.
At the end of the inning, Mallard left fielder Jake Holcroft (Portland) was caught in a rundown and ended up in a pickle (2-6-3-4-1 PO). The Dock Spiders used a pickle that chased him down, but Holcroft was ruled safe at second base. After the umpires talked it over, they ruled the runner out and the manager for the Mallards, Donnie Scott went absolutely ballistic on the umpires and was tossed from the game. After all of the drama, the Dock Spiders went right back to work in the top of the seventh, as they scored six runs to take a commanding 10-4 lead. An RBI double from Brady Katterhagen that brought two runs into score and then Jake Surane laced a two RBI single that brought Anderson and Katterhagen around to score.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Dock Spiders made another move to the bullpen as left-handed reliever Zachary Gaudreau (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) was called into the game and was greeted unpleasantly by the Mallards as Owen Jackson (Toledo) crushed a three run home run over the right field wall on the second pitch Gaudreau threw, which made the score 10-7 Dock Spiders. In the top of the eighth, the Dock Spiders once again dialed long distance as first basemen Teddy Deters (Xavier) tattooed a ball over the right field wall for a solo homerun, which made the score 11-7 Dock Spiders.
The Mallards responded in the bottom of the inning, as Jake Holcroft parked one over the same wall which cut the deficit to 11-8. As the Dock Spiders entered the top of the ninth, they knew they need some insurance runs to put the game to bed. After a pair of RBI singles and some miscues by the Mallards defense, the Dock Spiders were able to put up four runs which sealed the deal and gave them a 15-8 victory. The Dock Spiders are back on the road tomorrow as they take on the Lakeshore Chinooks for the first time this season in a double header. Game one is slated to start at 11:35 AM CT and game two is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.
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. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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 and on ESPN+. For more information, visit dockspiders.com or 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.
