Messina One Hit Shy of Cycle in Blowout
FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (14-12) scored early and often in a decisive 14-4 win over the Wausau Woodchucks (12-14) at Herr-Baker Field Sunday afternoon.
With this series sweep, the Dock Spiders now lead the season series 4-2. These teams will not meet again until July 23.
Starter Ryan Eiermann (Southeastern) lasted just one-plus inning in his shortest start of the season. He surrendered a three-run homer to Cole Messina, who wound up just a single shy of the cycle in the win.
Caleb Rutledge (Stephen F. Austin) took over, allowing an unearned run in the third inning that put the Spiders on top 4-0.
Messina tripled in the fourth, bringing home two of the Spiders’ seven runs in that inning. He would finish with seven RBIs in the game, adding a two-run double in the fifth before grounding out to shortstop Brock Watkins (BYU) who made a lunging play in the seventh.
The Woodchucks faced a 14-0 deficit before the offense came to life late. A two-RBI single by Hunter Dorraugh (San Jose State) put the Chucks on the board in the sixth, scoring Camden Janik (Illinois) and Dwight Allen (Georgia).
In the next inning, Brent Widder (Evansville) lined an RBI single into center field, plating Zach Levenson (Miami). Widder now owns a 15 game on-base streak.
Janik drove in Dorraugh for the final run of the game in the top of the eighth, giving Wausau their tenth hit.
Tyler Denu (Evansville) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, tallying two strikeouts late in the loss. He hasn’t given up a run over his past two outings.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
