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NYPL State College Spikes

Season's Largest Crowd Sees Spikes Walk off with 2-1 Win over Black Bears

July 26, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - 5,266 fans, the largest crowd of the season at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, filled the park on Bellefonte Community Night with legendary running back Blair Thomas in town, and Terry Fuller provided the walk-off heroics with a single to score David Vinsky in the bottom of the ninth that gave the State College Spikes a 2-1 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears on Friday night.

The crowd saw Thomas throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch, then sign autographs and meet and greet fans throughout much of the contest.

Centre County's seat also showed out as many Bellefonte residents were on hand for pre-game performance by the Bellefonte Cheerleaders and in-game recognitions of the Bellefonte Little League 10U All-Stars for their District 5 championship, the Bellefonte Area High School Softball team for its district title and the Bellefonte Area High School Majorettes for their state championship.

In game action, Vinsky set up the game-winning hit in the ninth with his leadoff double to center field, then advanced to third on Moises Castillo's bunt and, after Carlos Soto was hit by a pitch, scored on Fuller's line-drive single to left field.

Fuller had earlier tied up the game with a bases-loaded walk to put the Spikes (21-20) on the board in the seventh. The right-fielder was one of three State College players with multiple hits, joining Vinsky and Pedro Pages, who produced two doubles.

West Virginia (21-18) had taken the lead in the sixth on Will Mathiessen's two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield on a hit-and-run play.

Spikes starter Andre Pallante tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings and gave up two hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Jeremy Randolph then took over and yielded one run on three hits over 1 1/3 innings while striking out two batters.

Hector Villalobos (2-1) finished the game for State College with three scoreless frames to earn the win. Villalobos allowed one hit and one walk. The southpaw also struck out five batters.

Black Bears starter Jesus Valles threw six shutout innings, allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out three batters, before Alec Rennard (0-3) took over in the seventh. Rennard allowed both Spikes runs, one of them earned, on four hits and two walks over 2 1/3 innings to take the loss. The West Virginia reliever recorded one strikeout.

Saturday, the Spikes and Black Bears meet for the middle game of their three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Scott Politz (1-2) on the hill for State College against West Virginia right-hander Austin Roberts (0-0).

The family fun lasts the whole day on Saturday, starting as kids can learn baseball fundamentals from the pros at the Spikes Youth Baseball Clinic, presented by Penn State Health Medical Group. The clinic is free with a ticket to Saturday night's game, and will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Spikes players will help kids sharpen their basic skills, including pitching, fielding and hitting, at the clinic. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., and participating kids will have the opportunity to get autographs from the players at the end of the clinic.

The Youth Baseball Clinic starts a jam-packed day at the ballpark on Youth Baseball and Softball Night. Ballpark gates will open to the public at 6 p.m., with a Pre-Game Team Autograph Session and a Spikes Team Poster Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans of all ages presented by Boyles Insurance. Plus, kids can run the bases after the game.

It's also a Super Saturday, presented by the PA Lottery, with great chances to win big throughout the night, plus a Saturday Naturday, with half-price Natural Light Naturdays from 6-8 p.m.

The weekend series concludes with Sunday's Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Mount Nittany Health, featuring a Pink Plaid Blanket Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, a Pink Plaid Jersey-off-the-Back Auction on the LiveSource app to benefit the Mount Nittany Health Foundation and FIREWORKS after the game. The Spikes will then continue the homestand with a three-game set against the Vermont Lake Monsters (Oakland Athletics) Tuesday through Thursday.

Tickets for each game during the homestand, as well as every game on the 2019 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 Saturday 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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