Woodchucks Come Back From Down Seven, Down Dock Spiders in Ninth
Fond du Lac, Wis.- The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders led 8-1 after four innings. They led 10-8 after seven. But the Wisconsin Woodchucks (2-4) battled back both times and captured their second win of the season in dramatic fashion, 13-10 over the Dock Spiders (3-3).
The Woodchucks struck first in the top of the third when Milton Rivera reached on an infield single and scored on an error. The Dock Spiders tied it up in the bottom of the frame when Luke Mangieri drove home Collin Ridout with an infield single.
Then the game got crazy. 14 combined runs were scored across the bottom of the fourth and the top of the fifth.
Cory Wills led off the frame with a triple to deep right to get things going for the Dock Spiders. They would score seven runs in the inning, punctuated by a three-run bomb by right fielder Eric Gilgenbach that made the score 8-1.
It looked like the Woodchucks might roll over. But they didn’t. Instead, they put seven different runners across home plate against reliever Tristan Baker and tied the score at eight apiece. Rivera led off the inning with a single and a run, and Stevie Mangrum and Andreas Papageorge drove in runs in the massive comeback effort.
The Dock Spiders responded perfectly in the bottom of the fifth, however, scoring a pair of runs on a ground rule double hit by Mangieri to make it 10-8.
They wouldn’t score again. Wisconsin tied it up in the eighth when Kyle Mrozinski singled home Nolan Ryan and Stevie Mangrum scored on an error. Through eight, the score was tied at ten.
In the ninth, the usual suspects were at it again. Rivera led off with a walk, and Andrew Smith followed him with a single. Two batters later, Mangrum came through once again, launching his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to give the Woodchucks a three run lead. Orsen Josephina came on in the bottom half and struck out Chris Cornelius to clinch his second save of the season.
Pavin Parks pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win, while Zack Kesterson, who surrendered the home run, took the loss. The Woodchucks are back in action tomorrow night for their first matchup against Wisconsin Rapids on the road.
Tickets are on sale to all Wisconsin Woodchucks home games and the 2017 Northwoods League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, presented by Ascension. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 715.845.5055 or by stopping by the Woodchucks front office during normal business hours.
