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 State College Spikes

Spikes Top Muckdogs, 12-11, in 15 Innings Before Record Crowd

August 31, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - The State College Spikes welcomed a franchise record 6,066 fans to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the regular season home finale, then treated them to a walk-off win in the 15th inning as they defeated the Batavia Muckdogs, 12-11, in the longest game in club history on Saturday night.

The single-game attendance mark bettered the previous record of 5,836, set during the 2011 Home Opener against Williamsport, and marked the sixth time this season that over the Spikes welcomed over 5,000 fans to a game.

The large crowd saw a slugfest between the Spikes (46-28) and Muckdogs (33-41) that lasted exactly five hours, topping the previous record of four hours, 26 minutes set on July 25, 2006 when the Spikes lost to Hudson Valley at home, 7-6. The 14 innings the Spikes played that night were also the most the team played in a single game until Saturday.

With the win, State College now jumps into a three-way tie with Tri-City and Hudson Valley for the best record in the New York-Penn League with two games remaining. The Spikes could be seeded anywhere from first to third in the four-team playoff format depending on the results of the last two days.

State College was forced to use position players Jake Stone and Kenny Peoples-Walls (1-0) to pitch the 15th inning after the bullpen was depleted. Stone gave up four hits, including Felix Castillo's two-run single, before recording two outs and then exiting with an apparent injury. Peoples-Walls then loaded the bases with a walk before eliciting an inning-ending popout.

The Spikes then came back in the bottom of the 15th beginning with Chase Raffield's single to start the frame. After a popout, Peoples-Walls helped his own cause with a base hit, and Luis Cruz followed with a single to left to load the bases. Brett Wiley then collected two of his four runs batted in with a single to left, and Collin Radack became the walk-off hero with a base hit to right to score Cruz with the winning run.

Raffield had previously tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a bases-loaded single after Batavia took the lead in the top half on a K.J. Woods double.

The Spikes' 19 hits as a team were one shy of a team record, and their 19 strikeouts as a staff set a new club record. Wiley, Radack and Alex De Leon all collected three hits, with De Leon adding a pair of doubles. Wiley's eight at-bats also tied a franchise record.

Peoples-Walls earned his first career win after Brandon Lee and Josh Lucas combined for five scoreless extra innings of relief. Spikes starter Fernando Baez went just four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four.

James Buckalew (0-3) took the loss after yielding all three of State College's 15th-inning runs on five hits. Buckalew went a total of 2 1/3 innings in relief, and recorded six straight outs until the 15th frame, including one strikeout.

Kevin Grove went 3-for-7 with four runs scored for Batavia, while John Norwood produced three hits, including a triple, and three RBI. Eric Fisher also notched three hits for the Muckdogs.

The Spikes now finish the regular season with a two-game series at Susquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field against the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies). Sunday's matchup will begin at 5:05 p.m., and is slated to pit State College right-hander Trey Nielsen (3-2) against Williamsport left-hander Brandon Leibrandt (2-3).

The two teams will then meet for a Labor Day matinee at 1:05 p.m. on Monday to finish the regular season. Left-hander Austin Gomber (1-2) is slated to start for the Spikes, while right-hander Feliberto Sanchez (3-8) is set to get the ball for the Crosscutters.

The Spikes will then head into the New York-Penn League playoffs starting on Wednesday, with a schedule to be determined by the action on Sunday and Monday.

Fans can purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes' home games during the 2014 NYPL playoffs. Four-Game Playoff Packs start as low as just $16 per seat and include a $2 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Four-Game Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2014 Spikes playoff t-shirt while supplies last. Four-Game Playoff Packs can be purchased at the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person.

Single-game playoff tickets will also be available to fans at the Spikes Box Office and online at StateCollegeSpikes.com beginning on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Catch all of the action on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 4:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Susquehanna Bank Park at 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, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.


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