NYPL State College Spikes

Bader Homers Twice in Pro Debut, But Spikes Fall to Yankees, 5-3

Published on June 30, 2015 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATEN ISLAND, NY - Harrison Bader made his professional debut for the State College Spikes a memorable one, swatting two home runs, but the Spikes dropped a 5-3 decision to the Staten Island Yankees on Tuesday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Bader, the St. Louis Cardinals' 2015 third-round draft choice out of the University of Florida, drilled a solo home run to left field in the third inning, then followed with a two-run shot to left in the fifth. The former Gator became just the second Spikes (4-7) player to homer twice in his debut with the club, after Rowan Wick accomplished the feat on Opening Night last year.

The round-trippers kept State College in the game after a four-run second inning gave Staten Island (7-5) the advantage. The Yankees produced two walks and an infield single to load the bases with no outs in that frame, and Junior Valera's chopper to the mound was then thrown wide of first base to allow all three runners to score and Valera to get to third. Kyle Holder's sacrifice fly to center field plated Valera to conclude the scoring in the frame.

Three Spikes errors then allowed the Yankees to score again in the sixth. Casey Grayson's pinch-hit double kept State College alive in the ninth, but Staten Island reliever Luis Cedeno (1) shut the door on a Spikes rally.

Thomas Spitz contributed two hits for the Spikes, while Josh Swirchak delivered his first professional hit with a single in the seventh inning.

Carson Cross (0-1) took the loss in his first professional appearance after being charged with three of the runs in the second inning. Cross gave up two hits and three walks while striking out two batters over an inning-plus of work in the start.

Reliever Kender Villegas gave up just one unearned run on two hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. Villegas also struck out four batters. Jacob Evans, the Cardinals' 2015 sixth-round draft choice, allowed his first professional baserunner when he hit Jeff Hendrix with a pitch in the eighth, but kept his record otherwise spotless.

Staten island starter Derek Callahan (2-0) earned the mound victory with six innings of work. Callahan gave up five hits, including both Bader home runs, but struck out four batters and walked just one in the win. Cedeno finished out the night with three scoreless innings, yielding three hits and a walk but striking out three for the save.

Jake Hernandez had a three-hit night for the Yankees.

The Spikes now head home to start a three-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. matchup on Wednesday against the West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates). State College will send left-hander Ian McKinney (0-2) to the mound for his third start of the year. West Virginia has not yet named a starter for the series opener.

Fans can enjoy a Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. Outfield Bleacher seats will be available for just $3 apiece, and fans can purchase half-price 16-oz. select domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. 16-oz. sodas will also be available at half-price all evening long.

Plus, it's Going Green Night at the ballpark and State College Borough Water Authority Water Conservation Awareness Night as the Spikes encourage fans to get environmentally-minded in their local communities.

Fans can then bring their dogs to the ballpark for a night of four-legged fun on Thursday, July 2 at the first Bark in the Park Night of the year, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital, Happy 103 and the Centre Daily Times. That night's 7:05 p.m. game also marks the first $1 Beer Thursday of the year, presented by 93.7 THE BUS.

The series ends with a preview of the Fourth as FIREWORKS light up the skies following the 7:05 p.m. game on Friday, July 3, presented by the PA Lottery. Friday is also First Responders Appreciation Night, presented by the Centre Daily Times. The Spikes will celebrate the brave men and women in local police, fire and EMT departments who help keep us safe in our local communities.

Tickets for the three-game homestand, 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 Wednesday 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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