NYPL State College Spikes

Carvajal, Fortunato Team up to Help Spikes Top 'Cutters

Published on June 19, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Jordaneli Carvajal continued his torrid start with another pair of hits, including an RBI triple in the seventh inning, and Raul Fortunato put together the State College Spikes' first three-hit game of the 2012 season as the Spikes defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters, 5-2, in the Home Opener at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday night.

Carvajal, who also collected two hits on Monday in State College's (1-1) season opener at Williamsport (1-1), led off the bottom of the first inning with a base hit. Fortunato then produced his first hit of the game, and then stole second base, which combined with a missed catch error by Crosscutters second baseman Tyler Greene to plate Carvajal and give the Spikes a 1-0 lead.

However, Williamsport gained the lead in the third inning. Roman Quinn led off the frame with a single and stole second base, then advanced home on an error by Spikes first baseman Jared Lakind. Larry Greene followed with an RBI double for the Crosscutters to make it 2-1, Williamsport.

The Spikes would not be denied, though, bouncing back behind the combination of Carvajal and Fortunato. In the sixth inning, Carvajal led off with a walk, and after Fortunato singled and Barrett Barnes was hit by a pitch, Ryan Hornback singled in one run while another Crosscutters error brought home Fortunato with the go-ahead run.

State College completed its scoring in the seventh inning when Carvajal tripled to right field to knock in Rodarrick Jones and Fortunato singled for the third time in the game to plate his predecessor in the batting order and put the score at its final margin.

A crowd of 5,012 fans saw the Spikes' first-ever Home Opener victory in franchise history, breaking a streak of six straight 0-1 starts at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Carvajal was an emergency replacement as a leadoff man after Alex Fuselier, originally slated to start in left field and bat first, suffered an injury in pre-game warmups. Jones then took over as starting left fielder for his first action with the Spikes in 2012.

Logan Pevny (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Spikes, pitching two innings of one-hit, shutout ball after taking over for starter Joely Rodriguez in the fifth. Pevny struck out two batters in the effort. Kyle Haynes (1) earned the first save of his professional career. The 20th round draft choice out of the Pirates out of VCU pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits while striking out one.

Williamsport reliever Jim Birmingham (0-1) picked up the loss after allowing the Spikes' go-ahead runs in the sixth inning. Birmingham lasted just 1/3 of an inning on the mound, yielding two runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out one.

State College's comeback win deprived Crosscutters starter Ulises Joaquin of a chance at a decision. Joaquin allowed one unearned run on three hits over five innings, striking out three batters in the process.

Wednesday, the Spikes and Crosscutters play the third game of their season-opening four-game set at Historic Bowman Field. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The Spikes will send right-hander Jake Burnette (0-0) to the mound. Burnette, the Pirates' 7th round draft choice in 2011 out of Buford (GA) High School, makes his Spikes debut. Williamsport is slated to go with right-hander Jordan Guth (0-0).

The Spikes will then return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to face the Crosscutters on Thursday, continuing the Opening Week festivities. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Nittany Bank Nookie Monster Draw String Bag presented by Nittany Bank when the gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m. It's also Kids Eat N' Play Free Thursday presented by Dairy Queen Grill N' Chill. Plus, all members of the First National Bank Spikes Kids Club are invited to participate in the Kids Club Kick-Off from 5-6 p.m. in Porter Gardens, with an exclusive Spikes player meet-and-greet. Finally, it's Apocalypse Night, as the Spikes begin the countdown of six months until the end of the world.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, 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 Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Historic Bowman Field. 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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New York-Penn League Stories from June 19, 2012


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