NYPL State College Spikes

Martin's Inside-The-Park Homer Keys Spikes' 7-5 Win over Tigers

Published on July 10, 2015 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Danny Martin dashed home with the fourth inside-the-park homer to spark the State College Spikes early, and the Spikes pulled out a 7-5 win over the Connecticut Tigers on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Martin, who earlier this season tied a Spikes (10-10) record with two triples in one game, drove a ball to left-center field that rattled around the National Penn Bank Nook to allow him to knock in two runs with his round-tripper. The 2015 24th-round draft choice of the Cardinals out of Azusa Pacific University in California, Martin became the first State College player with an inside-the-park home run since Barrett Barnes at Tri-City on July 4, 2012.

Nathan Southard in 2006 and Junior Sosa in 2011 also produced inside-the-park homers for the Spikes, with Southard's giving the Spikes a 11th-inning walk off win on August 3 of the club's inaugural season.

The four-base hit extended the State College lead to 4-0, but that would not be the end of the game. Connecticut (10-10) came back to tie the game in the sixth inning, but the Spikes responded with a three-run sixth inning to retake the advantage for good. Casey Grayson's two-run double and Leobaldo Pina's RBI single were the crucial hits in the frame.

Grayson's hit allowed him to extend his on-base streak to 19 games, the longest string in the New York-Penn League. The University of Houston product also holds a 10-game hitting streak, the second-longest active run in the NYPL.

The scoring began in the first when Thomas Spitz led off with a double and came home on Craig Aikin's single. Aikin then stole second, moved to third on an error, and scored on Jesse Jenner's groundout to first.

Starter Dailyn Martinez saw his streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run stop at 16 1/3, but was charged with just three runs on six hits and a walk over five-plus innings of work. Martinez struck out three in the no-decision.

Pedro Echemendia (1-1) followed Martinez on the hill and, despite allowing the two tying runs to score in the sixth, got the win after logging two innings on the mound. Echemendia gave up three hits and a walk while striking out one for his first professional victory.

Jacob Evans (1), the sixth-round draft choice of the Cardinals in 2015 out of Oklahoma, yielded two hits over two scoreless innings while striking out three batters for his first professional save.

The Spikes next host the Tri-City ValleyCats (Houston Astros) for a three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in a rematch of the last two NYPL Championship Series. Saturday's 7:05 p.m. matchup is the opener of this year's series, with right-hander Juan Perez (2-1) getting the ball for State College. Tri-City will go with right-hander Trent Thornton (1-0).

It's Military Appreciation Night, presented by Lion Country Kia and the Centre Daily Times, as the Spikes honor the brave mean and women who have served and continue to serve our country at home and abroad. Lion Country Kia will also present a Spikes Camouflage Hat Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans when gates open to the public at 6 p.m., as well as a Game-Used Hat Auction to benefit PSU for Local Wounded Warriors featuring the Spikes' autographed patriotic hats worn on July 3.

Plus, it's a Scratch n' Win Saturday, presented by P.J. Harrigan's, and kids 12 and under can run the bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

Saturday is also the first chance for one lucky fan to play Plinko and be a big winner thanks to Lion Country Kia. Every Saturday, another brand new KIA will be on the line if a contestant can drop Plinko discs in the "K," "I" and "A" slots on the board in order.

Sunday, get the day started with the Spikes Youth Baseball Clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine. The clinic is free to kids 12 and under with a ticket to that night's 6:05 p.m. game against the ValleyCats.

The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open to the public at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday will receive a Spikes Team Poster presented by Fullington Bus Company. Fans can then get their posters signed by the Spikes at the Team Autograph Session from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Once the game concludes, Penn State Hershey Medical Group will present the second FIREWORKS show of the weekend.

The homestand concludes on Monday with the annual Super Splash Day game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as Ike's Kids Zone turns into the Splash Zone for kids of all ages. First pitch between the Spikes and Tri-City will be at noon, and fans can enjoy the savings of Buck Day, presented by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

Tickets for each game against the ValleyCats, as well as every game remaining on the Spikes' 10th Season 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 Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, 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, 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 10, 2015


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