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State College Spikes

Spikes Top Muckdogs, 5-2, to Stay Within a Game of Wild Card

September 3, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Ronnierd Garcia collected three hits to lead the State College Spikes' offense, and the Spikes took a 5-2 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

With the win, the Spikes (38-34) remained one game behind the West Virginia Black Bears for the New York-Penn League's lone Wild Card berth with four games left in the regular season. State College owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over West Virginia.

Garcia's two-run single in the fifth inning finalized the scoring in the game, and the Spikes third baseman also added a double and scored a run. Casey Grayson put State College on the board in the third inning with an RBI groundout.

Michael Massi's single and a groundout by Thomas Spitz each brought in a runner in the fourth inning to give the Spikes the lead for good.

Batavia's (30-41) only scoring came in the fourth inning, when Yuniel Ramirez knocked in one run with a single and an error on the same play plated another.

Josh Wirsu (1-1) earned his first win on the hill for the Spikes. Wirsu allowed two runs, one earned, on a total of five hits, a walk and a hit batsman over five-plus innings of work. The right-hander also struck out three batters.

Steven De La Cruz followed Wirsu with 2 1/3 scoreless, two-hit innings before Pedro Echemendia (11) allowed just one hit in a four-out save. Echemendia is now just one save shy of the Spikes' single-season record of 12, set in 2007 by Ronald Uviedo.

Batavia starter Dillon Peters (0-3) took the loss after yielding three runs on seven hits and a walk over four innings. Peters also struck out two in the effort.

Ramirez went 3-for-4 on the night for the Muckdogs. Roy Morales also produced multiple hits for Batavia

The Spikes finish their three-game series with the Muckdogs on Friday night in a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send left-hander Jacob Evans (3-3) to the mound to face Batavia right-hander Nestor Bautista (4-2).

Friday night, he first of three HD Weekend giveaways presented by Aaron's is on the slate as the Gates will open to the public at 6:00 p.m, and one lucky fan will walk away with a Samsung 2.2 Sound Tower to give their sound system some high-definition power.

Fans can also take advantage of the 4 for $44 Friday Northwest Family Value Ticket Package, presented by Northwest and MAJIC 99, with four of the best seats, four hot dogs and four small sodas available for just $44. Additional packages are just $11 each.

Plus, it's Princess Night and Daddy-Daughter Date Night at the ballpark. Fans can bring their little princesses along for a fantastic night with a Daddy-Daughter Dance after the game. Kids can also run the bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value during every remaining Spikes home game with the College 3-2-1 Special. The College 3-2-1 Special offers any college student presenting a valid student ID at ticket and concessions windows $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites, plus $2 medium sodas and $1 hot dogs all game long.

Tickets for the final three dates remaining on the Spikes' 10th Season home schedule 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.

Fans can also purchase Two-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes home games during the New York-Penn League playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, September 9. Playoff Packs start as low as $8, and each Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, and to order a Playoff Pack, call the Spikes Box Office at (814) 272-1711.

Catch all of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 6:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.

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