By John Baldridge/Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
LA CROSSE, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders tallied 13 runs on their way to a sweep on Thursday at Copeland Park. The Dock Spiders won both games over La Crosse, finishing with a 13-7 victory on Friday. The win moved the Dock Spiders to 21-34 on the season and 8-14 in the second half.
The Loggers started the scoring in the third inning, scoring two runs with a single from Elijah Ickes (Hawaii) that brought in a run, followed by a passed ball that allowed another run, making the score 2-0.
In the fourth inning, the Dock Spiders took their first lead. After loading the bases with no outs, a single from Garrett Hietpas (Winona State) made the score 2-1. The next batter, Caden Shapiro (Princeton), scored Tyler Stack (Xavier), tying the game at two. The following batter, Preston Knott (Northwestern), hit a sac fly into center field, making the score 3-2.
The Loggers jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs. A bases-loaded walk to Matthew Miura (Hawaii) with two outs tied the game at three. The next batter, Cooper Brass (New Mexico), singled to left field, scoring two runs and giving La Crosse a 5-3 lead.
In the fifth inning, both teams scored one run. A single from Tyler Stack made the score 5-4, and a sac fly into left field by La Crosse in the bottom of the inning made the score 6-4.
In the sixth inning, the Dock Spiders stormed back into the lead. A two-run home run to right field from Preston Knott (Northwestern) tied the game at six. The next three batters reached, bringing Connor Cooney (Holy Cross) to the plate. A single by Cooney to center field brought in the third run of the inning, giving the Dock Spiders the lead. The next batter, Tyler Stack, walked, bringing home another run and making the score 8-6. Two batters later, a single by Garrett Hietpas brought in another run, the fifth of the inning, and made the score 9-6.
La Crosse got one run across in the seventh inning, making the score 9-7. The Dock Spiders added four more runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Adam Cootway (UW-Whitewater), making the score 13-7.
In the bottom of the ninth, La Crosse got a man aboard but didn’t do any damage. RHP Austin Kutz (2-1) got the final three outs, picking up the win. Kutz went 4.2 innings in the outing, allowing only three hits and one earned run, as the Dock Spiders captured the 13-7 victory.
The Dock Spiders head to Duluth on Saturday for game one of a two-game series with the Huskies, with the first pitch 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. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, 360 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) 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 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.