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NYPL State College Spikes

Diekroeger Homers, But Spikes Fall to Doubledays, 7-1

July 26, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Danny Diekroeger smashed his third home run of the year, but the State College Spikes were held to four hits and the Auburn Doubledays provided enough offense to earn a 7-1 win over the Spikes on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

A crowd of 5,013 fans, the third crowd of 5,000 or more at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this year, saw Diekroeger send a solo shot to the right field bleachers in the fourth inning. The long ball was the Stanford product's first of the year at home, and cut the Spikes' (29-13) deficit to 2-1.

However, Auburn (19-22) picked up a run on Brandon Miller's RBI single in the fifth inning to regain a two-run lead, and then added four runs in the eighth. The final Doubledays burst included three bases-loaded walks.

Fans were thrilled by the return of "Mountain Man" from the hit A&E reality TV show Duck Dynasty. "Mountain Man" threw out a ceremonial first pitch, served as guest public address announcer in the first inning, and signed autographs from the third inning until the end of the game.

Diekroeger put together the only multi-hit game for State College. Kenny Peoples-Walls delivered a double for the Spikes.

Despite the loss, the Spikes maintained an eight-game lead over Williamsport in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division, and sit just a game back of Tri-City for the best record in the NYPL.

State College starter Austin Gomber (0-2) took the loss after allowing the first two Auburn runs on five hits and a walk. Gomber struck out five on the night in his first pitching appearance since July 11.

Drew Van Orden (1-3) rebounded from a poor performance against the Spikes earlier in the month to earn his first professional win. Van Orden, the Nationals' fifth-round draft choice out of Duke, had allowed eight State College runs over 3 1/3 innings on July 8, but yielded just one run over five innings on Saturday. The right-hander gave up four hits and struck out three batters.

Jeff Gardner helped the Auburn offense by going 3-for-4 with a double.

The Spikes now hit the road for a three-game series in eastern Ohio against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, starting with a 5:05 p.m. matchup on Sunday. State College will start right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon (1-2) on the mound, while Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander Cameron Hill (0-1).

After the road trip, the Spikes will return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a big six-game homestand starting on Wednesday, July 30. The Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore Orioles) and Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays) provide the opposition over the stretch.

Highlights include the return of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, the second Bark in the Park Night of the year, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital and NEWSRADIO 103, on Saturday night, a pair of fantastic FIREWORKS shows, and Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Mount Nittany Health. The homestand will run until Monday, August 4.

Tickets for all six games from July 30 through August 4, as well as every Spikes home game on the 2014 slate, 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 Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 4:50 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 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 26, 2014


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