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NYPL State College Spikes

Skirving's Blast Not Enough As Spikes Fall To Cyclones, 8-4

July 23, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Matt Skirving homered for the first time as a State College Spikes player, sending a two-run shot to right-center field in the fourth inning, but a five-run seventh brought the Brooklyn Cyclones an 8-4 victory on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Skirving's home run came on a 2-1 pitch from Brooklyn starter Marco Camarena, and scored both himself and Derek Trent to give State College a 3-2 lead in the fourth. The Eastern Michigan product had already produced ten doubles on the season to rank among the leaders in the New York-Penn League in that category.

The Spikes also grabbed the initial lead in the game when Alex Dickerson singled up the middle to plate Taylor Lewis in the first inning. Brooklyn (20-15) responded with a pair of runs off of State College starter Ryan Hafner, both of which were unearned.

The difference in the game, however, took place in the seventh inning. After the Cyclones tied the game, 3-3, in the fifth, Jordan Cooper (0-3) issued back-to-back walks to start things off two frames later. Charley Thurber then singled to load the bases, and Brian Harrison singled to left-center field to bring in the go-ahead run. Travis Taijeron followed both of them with a triple to clear the bases and make it 7-3, Brooklyn. Xorge Carrillo finished off the Cyclones' scoring with a sacrifice fly.

State College had a brief rally in them, as Lewis knocked in Walker Gourley with a run in the eighth inning. In the ninth, the Spikes had the tying run on deck twice, but could not bring in any additional runs.

Alex Fuselier had his first career three-hit game out of the leadoff slot for State College, with both Lewis and Dickerson adding multi-hit performances.

Cooper took the loss after being tagged with a total of six runs on seven hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings of middle relief. The right-hander struck out one batter on the evening.

Hafner pitched four innings to begin the game for the Spikes, allowing the two unearned markers in the second on a total of three hits and four walks. The righty also struck out three.

Reliever Orlando Tovar (2-1) picked up the win for Brooklyn after allowing a run on two hits in one inning of work.

Thurber, Harrison and leadoff man Danny Muno all collected three hits for the Cyclones, with Harrison adding two runs batted in.

Sunday, the Spikes take on the Cyclones at 6:05 p.m. in the middle game of a three-game set. State College will have left-hander Zack Dodson (0-1) on the hill for the third start of his rehab assignment from Single-A West Virginia. Dodson allowed five runs over four innings, with only two of the runs earned, on four hits, two walks and three hit batsmen last time out against Mahoning Valley on Tuesday. Brooklyn will go with right-hander Eduardo Aldama (2-0).

Fans can blast off with the Spikes and former Penn State football star Michael Robinson on Sunday as a spectacular post-game FIREWORKS show lights up the night skies at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Robinson, who led the Nittany Lions to the 2005 Big Ten championship among many other honors, will be on hand to meet and greet fans during the game, throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and appear on the Spikes GameDay Show.

It's also Bellefonte Community Night at the Park as the Spikes pay homage to the Home of Governors, with a Pre-Game Catch on the Field starting when the gates open, and Post-Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

Businesses, church groups, sports teams or any other group of 20 or more people can also take advantage of the "20 for $200 Special." The "20 for $200 Special" offers a Field Box ticket, hot dog and small soda to each member of the group for just $10 per person. Plus, when your group reserves this special package, the group can designate one person to throw out a pre-game ceremonial first pitch from the mound and the group will be announced on the video board during the game.

Half-Season Tickets are now also available for as low as $110 per seat. Fans can treat family, friends, clients, and employees to exclusive seats for all Spikes home games starting July 30. Half-Season Ticket holders will also receive all the same benefits and experiences of a Full-Season Ticket Holder for the remainder of the season.

Tickets for Sunday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game, 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 at 5:35 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from the concourse at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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