Dock Spiders Drop Two in a Row

FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders put the tying run on base in each of the final three innings, but couldn’t bring the run home in a 5-4 loss to the Lakeshore Chinooks on the road.

The loss marks the first time the Dock Spiders have been swept in a series this year, and drops them to an 8-4 record. The Chinooks won their third game in their last four, improving to 4-8.

The bullpen twirled 5.2 shutout innings in relief, with Rocky King (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), Reed Gallant (Rice) and Alex Vera (Illinois) combining to allow just one hit while striking out four.

After the Chinooks tallied five runs in the first four innings, the Dock Spiders scored two in the sixth and two more in the seventh. In the sixth, Tommy Stevenson (Missouri Southern State), smashed his first home run of the summer, a solo shot to left to cut into the deficit and make it 5-2.

In the seventh, Evan Smith (South Carolina) was hit by a pitch to bring a run home after three hit batters and a walk before Nick Mitchell (Western Illinois) brought in his second RBI of the night with a groundout. Mitchell’s multi-RBI game extended his team lead with 14 RBI on the year, the only Dock Spider with double-digit RBI.

The Dock Spiders tallied a hit with one out in the ninth, but failed to score the run, stranding Connor Manthey (Bradley) at second.

Tomorrow, the Dock Spiders stay on the road against the Wausau Woodchucks at Athletic Park. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.