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NYPL State College Spikes

Raffield Homers, But Spikes Fall to Renegades, 3-2

August 4, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Chase Raffield hit his second home run of the season and knocked in both State College Spikes runs, but the Spikes' rally fell just short as the Hudson Valley Renegades took a 3-2 decision on Monday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Hudson Valley (36-15) took all three games of the series against State College (32-19), but the Spikes remain eight games up on Williamsport for the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division lead. State College's magic number to clinch the division is 18.

Raffield's homer, a solo shot to the bleachers in right field, drew the Spikes within a run in the seventh inning. However, the Spikes would leave the tying run on base in each of the last three innings as the Renegades held on for the win.

Casey Gillaspie brought in each of the first two Hudson Valley runs. Gillaspie grounded out in the first inning to give the Renegades a 1-0 lead, then hit a solo home run of his own to right field to make it 2-0.

State College closed the gap on Raffield's double down the right field line in the fourth, but Alec Sole drove in another Hudson Valley run with a fifth-inning single.

Nick Thompson went 2-for-4 with a double for the Spikes, while Brett Wiley also contributed a double in his first game back with the club.

Jeff Rauh (4-1) made the start for State College in place of Ian McKinney, who was placed on the 7-day Disabled List prior to the game. Rauh gave up all three Renegades runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk, but also struck out two over a season-long 4 1/3 innings.

Kyle Grana then followed Rauh on the mound and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in which he struck out six batters to up his total on the year to 48, good for a tie for third place in the NYPL. Josh Lucas then struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning after rejoining the Spikes earlier in the day.

Renegades starter Oscar Armenta (4-1) earned the win after giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings. Armenta also struck out four batters. Michael Franco (1) pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings to finish the game for the save. Franco yielded one hit and one walk while recording four strikeouts.

The Spikes will have an off day on the schedule on Tuesday as they travel to Massachusetts to start a three-game series with the Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox) on Wednesday. State College is set to have right-hander Will Anderson (4-1) on the mound for the 7:05 p.m. series opener at Edward A. LeLacheur Park. Lowell has not yet announced a starter for Wednesday's game.

The Spikes will also visit the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers) on their six-game road trip before returning home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, August 12. The Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians) are set to 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 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 Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Edward A. LeLacheur Park. 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 4, 2014


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