NYPL State College Spikes

Top of the Order Propels Spikes to 8-4 Win Over Auburn

Published on July 22, 2010 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE - Gift Ngoepe went 3-for-4 and finished just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, while Mel Rojas Jr. contributed four hits to power the State College Spikes to an 8-4 win over the Auburn Doubledays at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Thursday night.

Ngoepe also knocked in a pair of runs with a ground-rule double in the first inning and a triple to right-center field in the sixth. The native South African also scored a run and stole a base in the game. Rojas, batting leadoff in front of Ngoepe, scored three times and knocked in a pair of runs to help the State College (17-17) offensive effort. Adalberto Santos provided an RBI triple in the third inning as well to give the Spikes their third victory in four games against the Doubledays (13-21) this season in front of 4,171 fans.

Matt Curry, the New York-Penn League Player of the Week for July 12-18, walked in the seventh inning to run his on-base streak to 19 games. The string encompasses Curry's entire Spike career to this point.

State College starter Colton Cain retired the first nine batters he faced in the game, but allowed two runs on three hits in the fourth inning before stranding a runner on third. Cain struck out four in the effort.

Reliever Kevin Decker (3-0) stayed undefeated in 2010, picking up the victory with two shutout innings, allowing three hits and hitting a batter. Decker battled back from being drilled by a comebacker off the bat of Jack Murphy on his very first pitch to earn the win. The College of Charleston alum went 8-0 for the Cougars this past spring. Ryan Beckman (1) picked up the save with three innings of two-run ball to finish off the game.

Auburn's Sam Strickland (1-3) started and took the loss, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on eight hits and a walk. Strickland also struck out two.

Friday, the Spikes take on the Doubledays in the second game of a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send left-hander Zac Fuesser (0-0) to the mound for his third start of the season. Fuesser allowed two runs on four hits in a no-decision at Auburn on Sunday. The Doubledays will counter with right-hander Casey Lawrence (3-0), who currently leads the New York-Penn League in earned run average with a 1.05 mark.

It's also a 4 for $44 Friday at the park, presented by US Foodservice. Fans can purchase four Diamond Club tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $44, with additional packages available at just $11 each. Plus, Reggy, the Purple Party Dude, will be on hand to entertain fans young and old with his zany mascot antics, and the Spikes will pay tribute to the men and women who keep us safe in our local communities on Hometown Heroes Night. After the game, kids can run the bases courtesy of HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital.

For ticket information, visit the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Box Office in person, call the Spikes at 272-1711, or log on to StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Fans can catch all of the action on the Spikes Radio Network and flagship station 95.3 FM 3WZ starting at 6:35 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from the right field Fun Deck at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 22, 2010


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