WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders lost to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 9-5 at Witter Field, finishing with just five hits.
After a scoreless first inning, Fond du Lac opened the scoring in the top of the second on Patrick Graham’s RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. Rain then caused a 45-minute delay in the bottom of the third.
Wisconsin Rapids responded after the delay, scoring two runs on consecutive bases-loaded RBI singles in the bottom of the third to take the lead. After two scoreless innings, Fond du Lac regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Andrew Bishop drove in Tommy Googins with an RBI double.
The Rafters answered in the bottom of the inning as Danny Gavin tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run. Wisconsin Rapids then broke the game open in the seventh, scoring four runs. Kedren Kinzie’s three-run home run highlighted the inning and gave the Rafters a 7-3 lead.
The Dock Spiders answered with two runs in the top of the eighth, but Wisconsin Rapids scored two more in the bottom half of the inning to extend its lead to 9-5. Rafters reliever Casey Wambach retired the Dock Spiders in order in the ninth to seal the victory.
Bishop led the Dock Spiders offensively with three RBIs and hit his first home run of the season. Gavin finished the night by hitting for the second cycle in Rafters history.
Fond du Lac and Wisconsin Rapids will meet three more times this season, including the final two games of the regular season. With the season series still undecided, both teams will look to claim the season series and finish the year on a high note.
The Dock Spiders return to Herr-Baker Field on Sunday for a 1:05 p.m. matchup against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters for Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day & Draw String Bag Giveaway. The Dock Spiders will thank Season Ticket Holders for their support throughout the season. Plus, the first 500 fans through the gates will receive a draw string bag courtesy of MLB Network. Kids can also enjoy Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by Fondy Family Dental, and stick around after the game for Post-Game Autographs presented by Kwik Trip.
Information about ticket packages is currently available at dockspiders.com or by calling the ticket office at (920) 907-9833. Visit the Dock Spiders ballpark Box Office and Team Store during normal business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 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. Entering its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. 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.