NYPL State College Spikes

17-Hit Attack Propels Spikes Past Muckdogs, 8-2

August 23, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


BATAVIA, NY - Casey Grayson produced three hits, including a triple, and the State College Spikes notched 17 hits as a team to match their season high for a single game this year as they surged past the Batavia Muckdogs, 8-2, on Sunday afternoon at Dwyer Stadium.

The win kept the Spikes (33-27) at least 1 ½ games out in front of the pack in the New York-Penn League Wild Card race, and assured them of a deficit no greater than 5 ½ games behind Williamsport in the Pinckney Division standings at the end of the day.

Grayson reached base four times on the day, including a walk, and increased his batting average to .320, putting him in third place in the NYPL batting race.

Jose Godoy also contributed both offensively and defensively to the State College cause, collecting a pair of doubles and driving in the Spikes' last two runs with his two-base hit in the eight. Godoy picked off two runners from behind the plate as well, increasing his season total to 10 and picking a runner off second base for the fourth time this year.

State College jumped out in front on Grayson's RBI single in the first, and added to the lead when Ronnierd Garcia's sacrifice fly scored a run in the second.

Batavia (25-35) would respond and tie the game in the third on run-scoring doubles by Taylor Munden and Travis Brewster. The Muckdogs then threatened in the fourth as Blake Anderson was set to score on Alex Fernandez's double to center field, but Anderson was cut down at the plate as Jhohan Acevedo threw to Josh Swirchak, who fired the ball home for Godoy's tag.

The Spikes outscored the Muckdogs 6-0 after that play, with Swirchak and Garcia each driving in runs with fifth-inning singles and a seventh-inning error plating two more State College runs before Godoy's second double.

Acevedo, Swirchak, Mike Pritchard and R.J. Dennard all delivered multiple hits for the Spikes.

State College starter Carson Cross (3-2) tossed six quality innings to earn the win. Cross yielded both Batavia runs on a total of five hits and two walks, and struck out three batters in the outing.

Kender Villegas (2) finished the game with three scoreless innings to earn the save. Villegas gave up three hits and a walk while striking out two.

Jordan Holloway (3-6) started and took the loss for Batavia, allowing four runs on 12 hits and a walk over five innings. The Muckdogs did not record a strikeout in the game until the final Spikes batter in the ninth inning.

Fernandez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, and was the only Batavia player with multiple hits.

The Spikes now head to Susquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field to take on the top team in the New York-Penn League, the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies), on Monday night. The 7:05 p.m. matchup starts a three-game series between the the two teams. State College will send right-hander Josh Wirsu (0-0) to the mound for his first start with the Spikes, while Williamsport will go with right-hander Luke Leftwich (1-1).

After the trio of games in Williamsport, the Spikes return home on Thursday, August 27 for a three-game series against Auburn. Highlights include the return of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, the 4 for $44 Friday Northwest Family Value Ticket Package, and the Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 29 with a Spikes School Kit Giveaway for the first 1,000 kids.

In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value on Thursday 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 the following special offers:

- $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites

- $2 medium sodas all game

- $1 hot dogs all game

Tickets for the three games from August 27-29, as well as each of the eight 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.

Catch all of the action on Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 6:50 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 the club's flagship radio home, 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from August 23, 2015


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