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NYPL State College Spikes

Espinal, Dunn Lead Hit Parade as Spikes Outlast Black Bears, 8-7

August 9, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Stanley Espinal produced his first four-hit game for the State College Spikes and Nick Dunn added three hits as the Spikes topped the West Virginia Black Bears, 8-7, on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for their fifth consecutive victory.

The Spikes' (24-29) winning streak matches their longest of the 2018 season.

Espinal drove in State College's first run with a single in the opening frame, then collected three more singles in his next four at-bats. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native also scored a pair of runs.

Trailing 5-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, State College surged for four runs to take the lead. Wadye Ynfante brought in two with a single to right-center field, and an error on the play scored another to tie the game. Ynfante then crossed the plate on a wild fourth ball to Alexis Wilson to make it 6-5.

The Spikes added two more insurance runs on Delvin Perez's single to center in the eighth, but had to withstand a West Virginia (18-35) rally as New York-Penn League All-Star Mike Gretler doubled in two runs in the ninth to draw the Black Bears within a run.

Kevin Hamann (7) shut down the Black Bears, though, as he got a groundout and a popout with the go-ahead run in scoring position to earn the save.

West Virginia got on the board with Jhoan Herrera's fourth homer of the year, a solo shot to right field, in the second inning. The Black Bears then scored four runs in the seventh on just one hit to go with four walks and two errors.

Lars Nootbaar added a fifth-inning RBI single for the Spikes.

State College starter Chris Holba allowed just one run on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out five batters over five innings. Reliever Winston Nicacio (2-2) ended up with the win for the Spikes, pitching two innings without being charged for a run and allowing one hit and two walks, one of them intentional. Nicacio also recorded two strikeotus.

Ryan Valdes (0-1) was charged with the loss in relief, yielding four runs, three of them earned, on four hits and three walks over seven innings. Valdes struck out two batters.

Friday, the Spikes look for their second straight series sweep as they take on the Black Bears in a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send left-hander Jacob Schlesener (2-3) to the mound, while West Virginia is scheduled to go with left-hander Zach Spears (0-5).

Fans can get a sneak peek at what is in store for the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Covention and Visitors Bureau as legendary running back Ki-Jana Carter will appear at the ballpark during the game to meet and greet fans and sign autographs.

Plus, the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Friday when they open to the public at 6 p.m. will receive a Ki-Jana Carter Bobblehead Giveaway, presented by The Nittany Lion Inn & The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and ESPN Radio 1450. Carter, the number-one overall draft pick in 1995, will serve as one of the captains for the Celebrity Softball Game that is part of the All-Star extravaganza on August 14.

Friday's events will be capped off by a fantastic post-game FIREWORKS show to light up the skies over Happy Valley, presented by The Meadows, and it is Scout Night at the ballpark.

Plus, Friday will be Call 811 Night at the ballpark presented by PA One Call, serving as the last of three consecutive nights highlighting the importance of calling 811 before you dig in Pennsylvania.

Fans can also get a great deal on a 4 for $44 Friday, presented by MAJIC 99, with four Diamond Club or Field Box seats, four hot dogs and four small sodas available for just $44. Additional packages are just $11 each. Yuengling drafts will be available at half-price as well from 6-8 p.m. as part of the Yuengling Happy Hour.

In addition, Friday's game is Penns Valley Community Night, part of the Community Nights Series presented by CATA.

It's also Scout Night at the ballpark, with all youngsters able to enjoy a FREE Kids Zone! presented by Friends of Jake Corman, and kids can run the bases after the game.

It all leads up to the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau on Tuesday, August 14. The All-Star festivities begin with the NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice on Monday, August 13, and then ballpark gate open for the NYPL All-Star Game at 3 p.m. on the 14th, with the chance to get autographs from the All-Stars and watch batting practice.

An array of stars led by team captains Ki-Jana Carter and Josiah Viera, plus gridiron greats Blair Thomas and Wally Richardson as well as a cavalcade of legends and celebrities will hit the field for the Celebrity Softball Game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The All-Star Game will then get underway at 7:05 p.m., with the showcase event followed by a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tickets for Friday's home game, as well as the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2018 NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice, and every game on the 2018 Spikes home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, 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, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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