NYPL State College Spikes

Poncedeleon Battles Back, But Spikes Fall to Tigers, 3-1

Published on August 9, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


NORWICH, CT - Daniel Poncedeleon rebounded from a rough start to strike out five batters over a career-long five innings of work for the State College Spikes, but three runs for the Connecticut Tigers were the difference as the Tigers topped the Spikes, 3-1, on Saturday night at Dodd Stadium.

Poncedeleon (1-3) yielded hits to each of the first four batters he faced, with a sacrifice fly by the fifth, Mike Gerber, plating the third Connecticut (29-26) run. However, the right-hander gave up just one more hit the rest of the way and notched five strikeouts for the fourth straight outing.

Relievers Jacob Booden and Brandon Lee combined to give up just two hits in relief for the Spikes (33-22), who got on the board in the sixth inning when a wild pitch scored Robelys Reyes. However, State College would get no closer in the game.

Nick Thompson was the lone Spike with multiple hits, while Ronnierd Garcia contributed a double for State College.

Tigers reliever Josh Laxer (3-0) got the win in relief after allowing a run on four hits and striking out four over four innings of work. Starter A.J. Ladwig gave up just one hit and recorded one strikeout over the first three frames. Gabe Hemmer (2) allowed Chase Raffield to get on base with a wild strike three to lead off the ninth inning, but struck out two more batters in a scoreless stanza to earn the save.

Joey Pankake collected two hits for Connecticut, while Will Maddox and Ross Kivett each produced RBI doubles in the first inning.

Prior to the game, four Spikes players were selected for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday, August 19. Shortstop Robelys Reyes and second baseman Darren Seferina will join pitchers Will Anderson and Kyle Grana on the South team for the NYPL's 10th annual Midsummer Classic at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.

Despite the loss, the Spikes still lead Williamsport by seven games in the New York-Penn League's Pinckney Division, and their magic number to clinch the division is 15.

Sunday, the Spikes and Tigers meet in a 4:05 p.m. matinee at Dodd Stadium for the second game of their three-game series. State College will have right-hander Trey Nielsen (3-2) on the mound to face Connecticut right-hander Chase Edwards (4-3), who was named to the NYPL All-Star Game on Saturday as well.

After the series in Connecticut, the Spikes will return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, August 12 as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians) come to State College for a three-game set. Highlights including a T-Shirt Tuesday Giveaway to the first 500 fans of all ages, presented by P.J. Harrigan's, a Spikes Jersey Pillow Giveaway presented by Northwest Savings Bank on Wednesday, August 13, and $1 Beer Night, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, to go with the Confer's Jewelers Diamond Dash and post-game FIREWORKS, presented by Circulatory Centers, on Thursday, August 14.

Tickets for the upcoming homestand, as well as each of the nine remaining Spikes home games 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 3:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Dodd Stadium. 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 August 9, 2014


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