NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Felled by Lake Monsters' Late Offense in 8-2 Defeat

Published on July 8, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


BURLINGTON, VT - Clay Holmes threw five shutout innings to start the game for the State College Spikes, but the Vermont Lake Monsters used a huge offensive surge in the late innings to defeat the Spikes, 8-2, on Sunday night at Centennial Field.

Holmes, the Pirates' ninth-round draft choice in 2011, looked to be well on the way to his third professional victory after leaving the mound with a 2-0 lead at the end of the fifth inning. The right-hander allowed one hit, one walk and hit one batter, but allowed none of them to cross the plate. Holmes added two strikeouts in the effort.

However, Vermont (13-8) would produce a total of ten hits in the seventh and eighth innings, including seven before State College (11-10) could produce an out in the eighth, to score all of its runs in those two frames. The barrage started with three straight one-out hits off of Josh Smith (0-1) in the seventh, finishing off with Rhett Stafford's two-run single to tie the game.

Stafford then advanced to third on two errors, and the Vermont catcher scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Austin Booker to give the Lake Monsters their first lead at 3-2.

In the eighth inning, Vermont added five runs on seven hits and a walk off of Kyle Haynes before Pat Ludwig recorded three outs to end the offensive assault.

The Spikes had taken the initial lead in the third inning, with D.J. Crumlich singling and scoring on an error that allowed Samuel Gonzalez to reach base and go all the way to third. Gonzalez scored one batter later when Ryan Hornback singled up the middle to make it a 2-0 game before the Vermont bats came alive.

Crumlich and Hornback each delivered multiple hits for State College.

Smith took the loss after yielding all three of the Lake Monsters' seventh-inning runs, with two of them earned. The left-hander also gave up three total hits and struck out one in 1 1/3 innings.

Reliever Stuart Pudenz (2-0) picked up the win for Vermont after pitching two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth innings. Pudenz struck out four of the six batters he faced in the effort.

Monday, the Spikes will look to snatch a victory from the Lake Monsters in the final game of their three-game series, set for 7:05 p.m. at Centennial Field. State College will have right-hander Jason Creasy (0-1) on the mound, while Vermont will go with left-hander Julio Ramos (1-1) with right-hander Devyi Jimenez (0-1) slated to follow him on the hill.

After an off day on Tuesday, the Spikes will return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Wednesday, July 11 to start a six-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m matchup against the Staten Island Yankees (New York Yankees). Fans will be able to get into the park with half-price Outfield Bleacher tickets and quaff half-price fountain drinks and half-price select domestic drafts on Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101.

Plus, health care professionals from across the region will be celebrated on Health Care Appreciation Night, and the Spikes will attempt to emulate the weird wackiness of game shows from the Land of the Rising Sun on Japanese Game Show Night.

Tickets for all six games in the July 11-16 homestand against the Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets), as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Centennial Field. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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