FOND DU LAC, WI – In the first scheduled doubleheader of the 2022 season, the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (8-7) look to end a five game skid on the road against the Madison Mallards (8-8) at Warner Park. Both games are scheduled for nine innings, with game one beginning at 12:05 p.m. Game two is slated for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Coverage begins at 11:50 a.m. on the Dock Spiders Radio Network with the Dock Spiders Pregame Show and Pregame Interview.

TODAY’S STORYLINES

LET’S DOUBLE UP: In the first scheduled doubleheader of the year, the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders meet the Madison Mallards at Warner Park. Both games are scheduled to be nine innings. In 2021, the Dock Spiders went 6-4 in doubleheaders, including sweeps against the Wausau Woodchucks on June 23, 2021 and at the Lakeshore Chinooks on June 28, 2021. In the first two match-ups, the two teams split, including a 9-7 extra-innings win for the Dock Spiders at Madison on June 3.

A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN: Wednesday night’s game between the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters was postponed to Sunday, July 10. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader starting at 1:05 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders fell to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, 17-2, at Herr-Baker Field on Tuesday night. The win for the Rafters was their 14th in a row, tying the record for the longest win streak in franchise history. The Dock Spiders bullpen tallied 10 strikeouts on the night, including seven over the final three innings from Frankie Klemm and Rocky King.

HIT BALL, Go far: Tuesday night’s solo home run from Cole Messina was the first Dock Spider to hit a home run with a recorded distance of over 400 feet this year. The ball came off the bat with a 99 mph exit velocity and traveled 413 feet to center field. The home run was the first of Messina’s collegiate career.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Today’s game marks the first of a stretch that sees the Dock Spiders play nine of their next 11 games on the road. Their only two home games come on June 17 against Lakeshore and June 20 against Madison. The Dock Spiders will travel to Madison for three games, to Wisconsin Rapids and Kalamazoo for two games each and travel to Lakeshore and Wausau for a single game.

GAME ONE STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP JOSH CULLIVER (FDL): Culliver makes his second career Northwoods League start after he allowed three runs in 3.1 innings at Lakeshore on Friday. He threw a season-high 54 pitches. 

LHP JUSTIN MILLER (MAD): The Purdue-Fort Wayne righty makes his second start of the year, and second against the Dock Spiders after he allowed three runs over three innings on June 4 in a Madison win. His control has been excellent this summer. He’s surrendered one walk over the 32 batter he’s faced, a three percent walk rate.

GAME TWO STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP DAVID HAGAMAN (FDL): After striking out a career-high eight batters in his last start against Green Bay, Hagaman makes his second start, and fourth appearance of the year. The West Virginia righty has allowed two runs this year with 15 strikeouts over nine innings.

RHP KADE LANCOUR (MAD): Lancour makes his second start against the Dock Spiders after he threw 5.1 innings on June 3 at Warner Park. He retired 12 of 13 Dock Spiders hitters between the first and fifth innings in a 10-inning Mallards loss.