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NYPL State College Spikes

Benedict Superb, But Spikes Falter Late to Drop 6-4 Decision to Renegades

August 20, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


FISHKILL, NY - A two hour, 34 minute delay couldn't keep Matt Benedict from shining on the mound for the State College Spikes, but the Hudson Valley Renegades used two late rallies to edge past the Spikes, 6-4, in a game that ended early Saturday morning at Dutchess Stadium.

The game did not start until 9:39 p.m. to allow for the field to be prepared after a severe thunderstorm passed through the area in the late afternoon. Despite the wait, Benedict provided a strong outing on the mound for State College (23-36), allowing just one unearned run on four hits over five innings of work. The right-hander also set a new career high for strikeouts in a single game for the second straight start, fanning six Hudson Valley (29-30) batters.

The Renegades took the first lead of the game in the first inning, when Craig Lyerly crossed the plate on an error. Spikes first baseman Chris Lashmet collided with Hudson Valley's Matt Rice at first base on the same play, resulting in Lashmet leaving the game with an apparent shoulder injury.

State College took full advantage of four Renegades errors in the second inning, though, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 advantage into the fourth inning. Wes Freeman followed the fifth Hudson Valley error with an RBI single to score Ashley Ponce and make it 3-1, Spikes.

Stetson Allie followed Benedict on the mound for State College and preserved the lead with a scoreless sixth inning in which he walked one batter and struck out two. In the seventh inning, though, Hudson Valley plated three unearned runs off of the Spikes' Jesus Brito, with an error, Juniel Querecuto's bases-loaded sacrifice fly, and a two-run single by Rice providing the Renegades with another one-run lead.

State College's Rodarrick Jones then led off the eighth inning with a double to give Dan Gamache the opportunity to knock him in with a base hit to right-center field to tie the game at 4-4. Hudson Valley had the last scoring burst, though, with Brito's wild pitch on a third strike allowing the leadoff man in the eighth inning, Chris Winder, to reach base. Leonardo Reginatto doubled home Winder for the go-ahead run, and then scored himself on Lylerly's base hit to provide the game's final margin.

Friday's start time was the latest in Spikes history. The previous mark for the latest first pitch in a Spikes game was set on June 23, 2006, when a home game against the Batavia Muckdogs began at 9:04 p.m.

Brito took the loss for State College, allowing five runs, two of them earned, on five hits and a walk over two innings of work. The right-hander also struck out two in the effort.

Hudson Valley altered its pitching lineup after the delay, holding off on bringing originally scheduled starter Andrew Bellatti until the third inning. Bellatti yielded two runs, one of them earned, on five hits while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings. Renegades reliever Justin Woodall (2-1) then picked up the victory with a perfect 1 2/3 innings to finish the game, striking out three batters in the process.

Lyerly ended the game 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a stolen base and a run batted in for Hudson Valley.

The Spikes begin a three-game series with the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals) on Saturday at Falcon Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Ryan Hafner (2-4) on the mound for State College. Hafner's 2.83 earned run average puts him in the top ten of the New York-Penn League in that category. Auburn will go with right-hander Taylor Hill (0-2).

The Spikes return home on Tuesday, August 23 to start a six-game homestand with a 7:05 matchup against the Jamestown Jammers (Florida Marlins). Fans can put a headlock on value with the Spikes' second annual Wrestling Rumble Night, paying tribute to the greatest feats of the squared circle throughout the evening. Plus, Buck Bleacher Night gives fans the chance to lock up an Outfield Bleacher seat for just $1, thanks to the Centre Daily Times. It's also the first night of the College 3-2-1 Special, presented by BioLife Plasma Services, with $3 off any seat in the ballpark, $2 off a medium soda, and $1 hot dogs available to any college student showing the proper ID.

Tickets for Tuesday's game, as well as each of the eight home games remaining on the Spikes' 2011 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 also have the opportunity free tickets to each of the remaining home games on the 2011 Spikes home slate by purchasing their 2012 Season Ticket packages now. Spikes Season Ticket packages come with membership into the exclusive Extra Innings Club, as well as provide a wide variety of additional benefits through a personal front office ticket representative. To purchase 2012 Season Tickets, contact a Spikes ticket representative at (814) 272-1711.

Catch all of the action on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Falcon Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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