NYPL State College Spikes

Big Inning Sends Spikes to 8-3 Defeat against Doubledays

Published on June 24, 2015 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Craig Aikin produced two hits in his debut with the State College Spikes, and Mike Pritchard added two as well, but a four-run Auburn Doubledays third gave them an 8-3 win over the Spikes on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Aikin, who joined the Spikes (1-5) earlier in the day after being promoted from Rookie-level Johnson City, collected a single and double in his first two at-bats. The University of Oklahoma product had gone 1-for-4 in Johnson City's Appalachian League opener last night in Kingsport, TN.

Pritchard started the season 0-for-13 at the plate, but produced his second straight multi-hit game to help key the offense. The left fielder also drove in Aikin with a groundout in the fifth.

However, after Auburn (5-1) scored a pair of runs in the opening frame, the Doubledays opened up their lead with a quartet of runs in the third, starting with a solo home run from Diomedes Eusebio. Jorge Tillero's two-run single and Edwin Lora's RBI triple added to the Auburn advantage, which expanded with Randy Encarnacion's run-scoring single in the fourth and an additional run in the sixth.

Spikes starter Ian McKinney (0-2) took the loss after yielding seven runs, but just five earned, on nine hits and two hit batsmen over 4 2/3 innings. McKinney also recorded a season-high seven strikeouts in the effort. Nick Frey then took over and went the rest of the way, limiting Auburn to a single on two hits and a walk while striking out five over 4 1/3 frames.

Reliever Jose Morales (1-0) got credit for the win as he logged a pair of one-run innings, yielding a total of three hits and a walk. Morales struck out one batter. Starter McKenzie Mills gave up one run on four hits and a walk while striking out two, but was lifted after throwing 64 pitches over four innings.

Cole Plouck (1) faced the minimum over the last three innings, allowing just a walk and striking out three for the save.

Thursday, the Spikes start a six-game road trip with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field in Niles, OH. State College will send right-hander Jorge Rodriguez (0-0) to the mound for his second start of the year. Mahoning Valley will counter with right-hander Jose Zapata (1-0).

The six games will cover a three-game set in Niles and another trio of games against Staten Island.

The Spikes return home on Wednesday, July 1 to begin a three-game series against West Virginia. Fans can 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 and Happy 103. That night also marks the first $1 Beer Thursday of the year, presented by 93.7 THE BUS.

Additional highlights of the series include Wednesday's Going Green Night and a preview of the Fourth with FIREWORKS following the game on Friday, July 3, presented by the PA Lottery.

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 Thursday 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 Eastwood 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.

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