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NYPL State College Spikes

Pina's Walk-Off Single Wins It as Spikes Top Muckdogs, 6-5

July 20, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Leobaldo Pina delivered a walk-off single in the ninth as the State College Spikes battled back to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs, 6-5, on Monday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Pina's hit to deep right field with the bases loaded brought in Josh Swirchak with the winning run to give the Spikes (15-14) their first walk-off win of the 2015 season.

Swirchak also helped the Spikes get on the board with a two-run triple in the second that gave the State College the lead. Cole Lankford brought in two more runs with an eighth-inning single that extended the Spikes' advantage to three going into the ninth.

However, four straight ninth-inning hits, including an RBI double by Travis Brewster and a game-tying double from Alexander Fernandez, let Batavia (9-20) erase a 5-2 deficit and head into the bottom of the ninth tied.

The Spikes would then get a single from Swirchak, a walk from Thomas Spitz and an infield single from Mike Pritchard to set up Pina's heroics.

Batavia had taken the opening lead of the game on Ryan Cranmer's run-scoring double to right-center field in the second. Brad Haynal's third-inning sacrifice fly produced the Muckdogs' second run.

State College reliever Pedro Echemendia (3-1) got credit for the win. Echemendia tossed a total of three innings, facing the minimum in the first two frames before allowing the trio of Muckdogs runs in the ninth. The Cuban right-hander yielded a total of five hits, but struck out four batters.

Starter Carson Cross went four innings on the hill for the Spikes, yielding two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one. Luke Harrison followed with two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk over that time.

Batavia reliever L.J. Brewster (0-1) took the loss. Brewster, who entered the game in the ninth, recorded one out but gave up all three Spikes hits and the walk that led to the winning run.

Cranmer collected three hits for the Muckdogs to lead their offensive effort.

Tuesday, the Spikes hit the road to start a six-game swing to visit Aberdeen and Hudson Valley. State College starts a three-game set at Ripken Stadium with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the IronBirds. Left-hander Ian McKinney (3-2) will get the ball for the Spikes, while Cristian Alvarado (0-0) makes his first start for Aberdeen.

The Spikes will return home on Tuesday, July 28 to begin a six-game string at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Vermont and Lowell will be the opposition during the stretch.

Highlights of the homestand include Dollar Beer Thursday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, a Spikes Athletic Cup Giveaway presented by Boyles Insurance on Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure Prostate Cancer Awareness Night, FIREWORKS presented by Vision Creative Solutions and ESPN Radio 1450, Bark in the Park Night presented by Metzger Animal Hospital, and the annual Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Mount Nittany Health.

Tickets for each game of the homestand from July 28 to August 2, as well as every date 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 Tuesday 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 Ripken Stadium. 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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