Dock Spiders Fall Behind Early

FOND DU LAC, WI – The Madison Mallards jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning, and staved off three different comeback attempts from the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders in a 5-2 Fond du Lac loss at Herr-Baker Field on Monday night.

Dock Spiders starter Austin Wagner (Mary) took the tough-luck loss after he allowed three runs over 6.1 innings, becoming the second Dock Spiders pitcher to throw into the seventh inning this year. Michael Finan (1-1) earned the win after five innings of two-run ball, and Steven Lacey earned his second save in an eight-pitch ninth inning.

The loss dropped the Dock Spiders to 11-9 on the year, in second place in the Great Lakes West Division and 7.5 games back of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The Madison win saw them improve to 10-12 on the year, 9.5 games back of the Rafters.

The Mallards got off to a hot start, scoring three runs on four hits and an error in the third inning. In the bottom half, the Dock Spiders would tally a run when a Nick Mitchell (Western Illinois) fielder’s choice to short scored Evan Smith (West Virginia) from second base. The Dock Spiders would get the tying run on, but Mallards retired two in a row to end the inning. In the fifth, the Dock Spiders would cut the deficit to one after an RBI base hit from Grant Hussey (West Virginia). Fond du Lac would again put the tying run in scoring position, but Finan used a strikeout to escape the jam.

The Mallards bullpen would hold the Dock Spiders hitless over the final four innings, scoring two on offense in the seventh to extend the lead to three.

Tomorrow starts a five-day road trip for the Dock Spiders, as they’ll travel to Witter Field for the first time to take on the Rafters. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.