NYPL State College Spikes

5,921 Fans Pack Park as Spikes Fall to 'Cutters, 3-2, on Opening Night

June 19, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - A near-record sellout crowd of 5,921 fans, the second-largest in State College Spikes history, flocked to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for Opening Night 2015 as the Spikes dropped a 3-2 decision to the Williamsport Crosscutters on Friday night.

The crowd was just 145 fans short of the all-time record of 6,066, set on August 30 of last year during the 2014 regular season home finale against Batavia. The Spikes have broken their all-time record for home opener attendance in back-to-back seasons after welcoming 5,801 fans to last year's initial home game.

The Spikes (0-1) thrilled the gallery by plating both of their runs in the opening frame. Danny Martin started the surge with a one-out walk, and went to third on Leobaldo Pina's slap single to right field. Brian O'Keefe, who was a member of last year's New York-Penn League champions, then brought in the season's first run with a sacrifice fly, and Casey Grayson followed with an RBI single to increase the lead.

However, the Crosscutters (1-0) got on the board in the second inning when Jan Hernandez bounced a ground-rule double over the right-center field wall, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch. Williamsport then notched four straight fourth-inning hits, including a run-scoring single by Hernandez and an RBI ground-rule double by Venn Biter, to take the lead for good.

Thomas Spitz gave State College a chance to tie the game in the night when he led off with a single and stole second base. However, Spitz was tagged out on a close play at third base to end the game after trying to advance on a wild pitch.

Ian McKinney (0-1) started and produced a solid Opening Night effort for the Spikes despite the loss, going seven innings and yielding all three runs on eight hits and a walk. McKinney, whose season was cut short by injury last year, also struck out two batters in an 87-pitch, 63-strike effort.

Williamsport starter Alejandro Arteaga (1-0) earned the win after giving up both State College runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. Arteaga, who went 0-3 against the Spikes last year, threw 84 pitches, 52 of them for strikes. Will Morris pitched three scoreless innings of middle relief before Jason Zgardowski (1) pitched a one-hit ninth and struck out one to pick up the save.

Spitz, who also tripled in the game, and Leobaldo Pina produced multi-hit games for the Spikes.

Jose Pujols and Jesus Posso both delivered a pair of hits for the Crosscutters, with Pujols putting together two doubles. Five of Williamsport's eight hits were for extra bases.

Prior to the game, the Spikes celebrated last year's New York-Penn League championship team by unveiling the club's championship banner on the right field wall, and raising the pennant in left-center field. Following the festivities, Josiah Viera, the Spikes' 11-year-old honorary bench coach, threw the ceremonial first pitch to open the 2015 season, the club's 10th in Central Pennsylvania.

Saturday, the Spikes head to Susquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport for the second game of their three-game series against the Crosscutters. Right-hander Jorge Rodriguez (0-0) gets the ball for the Spikes, and will be opposed by Williamsport right-hander Franklyn Kilome (0-0).

The Spikes and Crosscutters then return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Sunday for a 6:05 p.m. matchup to finish the opening set of the season on Father's Day. Gates open to the public at 5:00 p.m., and the first 999 fans through the gates when they open at 5:00 p.m. receive a Replica NYPL Championship Ring, presented by First National Bank.

One lucky fan will then have the chance to win an Authentic NYPL Championship Ring presented by First National Bank. Ten finalists will be selected, and will be eliminated throughout the night until only three competitors are remaining. After the game, those three will play a very special game of Championship Ring Toss to determine who walks away with the same ring as players, coaches and staff from last year's title team. Fans can also enjoy another fantastic FIREWORKS show following the game and Kids Day at the ballpark thanks to First National Bank.

Kids will also eat and play for free on Sunday thanks to Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, and enjoy a pre-game catch on the field. After the game, all kids 12 and under can run the bases thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

It's also Veteran Appreciation Day presented by SGT Bob and VFW Post 5825 - Pine Grove Mills.

Tickets for the remainder of Opening Week, as well as every game on the Spikes' 2015 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 Saturday 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.

Spikes fans can also catch live coverage of Sunday's game against the Crosscutters on WHVL-TV beginning at 6 p.m., with Steve Jones joining Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com on the call. Check WHVL.com to find what channel WHVL is located at on your local cable system in Central PA.

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