Five-Run Third Sends Wisconsin to Fourth Straight Loss

The first inning has proved troublesome for the Wisconsin Woodchucks this season, but last night it was the third inning that really did them in. Two runs in the first and five more in the third propelled the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (5-10) to a convincing 10-5 victory over the Woodchucks (5-11) in Wausau.

Eli Baez made his third start of the year for the Woodchucks, but Fond du Lac ensured it wouldn’t be an easy one. Leadoff hitter Colton Neel singled and Nick Fortes walked and they both scored in the inning to put the visitors up 2-0. Wisconsin got one back in the second on an RBI single from Milton Rivera, but Fond du Lac pulled away in the third.

With one out, Fortes walked and Andrew Bullock singled. From there, Cory Wills hit an RBI single, Thomas Luevano hit an RBI double, and Chris Cornelius hit an RBI single to help the Dock Spiders jump out to a big lead. Wisconsin brought back another run on an Ivan Nunez sac fly to cut the deficit to 7-2 after three.

Armando Gonzalez cruised in relief of Baez for a while before Fond du Lac got to him for a pair of home runs, a solo shot by Cornelius in the sixth and a two-run blast by Collin Ridout in the seventh. Both men homered for the first time this season to stake Fond du Lac to a 10-2 lead.

Jackson Owens and Payton Coffman each tossed a scoreless inning of relief, and the Woodchucks made things interesting against reliever Jordan Bock in the ninth. Nolan Ryan singled and Rivera doubled, and Tristan Clarke brought them both home with a single. Clarke was cut down trying to go to second, and Stevie Mangrum followed him by launching his league-leading seventh homer of the year. Brylie Ware singled but was stranded as the Chucks could not complete a second big comeback against the Dock Spiders, ultimately falling 10-5.

The three-game homestand continues tonight with the first of a pair of games against the Rockford Rivets. Kellen Rholl is slated to pitch for the Woodchucks with first pitch at Athletic Park scheduled for 6:35 PM.

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.