NYPL State College Spikes

Fuselier Collects Three Hits, But Spikes Downed by 'Cutters 5-4

Published on August 19, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


WILLIAMSPORT, PA - Alex Fuselier went 3-for-5 with an RBI to top the State College Spikes' offensive efforts, but the Williamsport Crosscutters put together a pair of scoring bursts to take a 5-4 decision from the Spikes at Historic Bowman Field on Sunday evening.

Fuselier started in left field, and delivered State College's (29-30) first hit in the first inning. However, it was Williamsport (21-37) that grabbed the first lead in the game, scoring three times off of Spikes starter Clay Holmes (4-3) in the third. Tyler Greene began the Crosscutters' scoring with a solo home run over the left-center field wall one pitch after a long foul ball down the left field line. Greene's round-tripper was the first allowed by Holmes in his professional career.

Roman Quinn then continued the surge as he singled, stole second and went to third base on a balk. After a walk, Quinn was caught in a rundown between third and home on a grounder to Yhonathan Barrios at the hot corner, but lengthened it out enough so that the runners could get to second and third base. Chris Serritella's followed with a two-run single on a golf swing down the right-field line to make it 3-0, Williamsport.

The Spikes would respond with their own trio of runs in the fifth inning. Barrios, Jared Lakind and Jodaneli Carvajal each singled to start the inning and load the bases. Fuselier contributed a one-out RBI base hit to put the Spikes on the board, and D.J. Crumlich brought in another run on a sacrifice fly to left field. Jacob Stallings completed the rally with a run-scoring single to right, tying the game, 3-3.

Quinn would start another flurry for Williamsport, though, when he walked and stole second base with one out. The Crosscutters' speedy shortstop then advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Cameron Perkins's single to put Williamsport back out in front, 4-3.

Serritella's subsequent single continued the inning, and forced Holmes from the mound. Larry Greene put the capper on the frame with an RBI single off of Tom Harlan to put the Crosscutters up by two runs.

Harlan was superb the rest of the way, though, as he tossed a total of 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and hitting a batter while striking out three to keep the Spikes in the game.

State College made a comeback attempt in the seventh inning, with Tyler Gaffney and Fuselier starting the frame with back-to-back base hits and Crumlich producing another sacrifice fly to draw the Spikes within a run. However, reliever Matt Sisto shut the door with 1 1/3 perfect innings, and Andrew Aizenstadt (2) finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to cop the save.

The Spikes outhit the Crosscutters in the game, 10-8, but took their third loss in a row.

Gaffney was also hit by his 19th pitch of the season, putting him just five short of the New York-Penn League short-season record of 24.

Holmes went a total of 4 2/3 innings, giving up all five runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batsman. The right-hander also struck out one batter in the outing.

Starter Manny Martinez (1-1) got the win for Williamsport, allowing three runs on seven hits and two hit batsmen. Martinez also struck out four batters.

Monday, the Spikes and Crosscutters finish their two-game set with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Historic Bowman Field. Right-hander Jason Creasy (0-4) makes his team-leading 12th start of the year for State College, while Williamsport will go with right-hander Ulises Joaquin (2-1) on the mound for the game.

The Spikes return home for a six-game homestand starting on Friday night with a Six-Pack Cooler Tube Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans of all ages, presented by HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital . Jamestown will be the opponent for the first three games of the homestand from August 24-26, with Auburn coming back from August 27-29.

Tickets for all of the games in the upcoming homestand, as well as all ten remaining Spikes regular season home games 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 Historic Bowman 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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New York-Penn League Stories from August 19, 2012


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