FISHKILL, NY (July 19, 2007) - Three early inning home runs for the State College Spikes, pieced together by Daniel Rios, Miles Davis and Brian Friday, withstood a nail-biting Renegades rally, as the Spikes departed Dutchess Stadium with a series-winning 5-4 victory.Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Mike McCormick doubled in Steve Vogt to narrow the deficit to 5-3. For McCormick, the run-scoring double was his second double of the game and the fourth time the Renegades backstop reached base.
McCormick was not the only Renegade to deliver in the clutch. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Emeel Salem slugged his first home run of the year over the right field wall, cutting the Spikes lead to 5-4. After a Cody Cipriano single placed the tying run on base, Maiko Loyola struck out swinging to end the game. Despite the strikeout, Loyola kept the Renegades in the game with two hits, one of which drove in a run, to improve his average to a team-leading .346.
Also giving the Renegades a chance to win were relievers Bladimir Florentino, Robert Della Grotta and Mark Suchowiecki, who dominated Spikes hitters for the final four innings, not allowing a run while scattering two hits and striking out three.
The Renegades travel to Auburn for a three game series over the weekend before returning home for a six game home-stand beginning on Tuesday.
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