KALAMAZOO, MI- In the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders' (21-26) first trip to Kalamazoo, the Growlers (16-30) jumped on the Spiders early and won 8-3.

Kalamazoo started the scoring early as they cashed in for two runs in the 1st inning thanks to three hits and an error. 

Down 2-0, Fondy cut the lead in half with a sacrifice fly from KV Edwards. However, that would be as close as the Dock Spiders would get. In the bottom of the 2nd, Kalamazoo would extend their lead to 4-1 on a two run homer off the bat of Jack Duffy. 

Zack Kesterson started for the Spiders and lasted 3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned). Kesterson was handed his 5th loss on the season and now has a record of 4-5. 

Making his debut, Brady Nehring (Marian University) was the first pitcher brought out of the bullpen. Nehring's first inning was a scoreless frame, but he ran into problems in his second inning. Four runs came across to score against Nehring, and he was pulled after two innings. It was 8-1 Kalamazoo after five innings.

Also making his debut, the ambidextrous Tyler Hopman came on in the 6th inning and pitched the final three innings allowing just three hits and no runs. 

On a night the Dock Spiders scored only three runs on five hits, Brandon Wulff hit his 5th home run on the season, and Eric Gilgenbach hit his team leading 6th homer. 

The Dock Spiders will look to split the series and the road trip tomorrow afternoon at Kalamazoo. Sunday afternoon's game is the last for the Dock Spiders prior the three day All Star break. The game starts at 2:00 central time. Jack Collins the expected starter for the Spiders. 

Season ticket packages, group outings, and individual game tickets for the 2017 season are on sale now and may be purchased from the Dock Spiders ticket office (located at 980 E Division St.).  Fans may order tickets in person or over the phone by calling (920) 907-9833between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday.  Tickets are also available any time in the ticket section of dockspiders.com.

 

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League.The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, more than 180 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.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.