NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Battle Back to Beat Doubledays, 9-7

July 6, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


AUBURN, NY - Down 4-0 in the first inning, the State College Spikes used a season-high 15 hits, including R.J. Dennard's three-run double in the sixth inning that gave them the lead, to come back and defeat the Auburn Doubledays, 9-7, on Monday night at Faclon Park.

Dennard, the 39th-round draft choice of the Cardinals in 2015, stopped an 0-for-22 stretch with a single up the middle for his first pro hit in the second inning. The Armstrong State product then came up with the bases loaded in a tie game in the sixth and smashed a ball off the right-field wall to clear the bases.

The Spikes (8-9) had already overcome the early four-run hole, and a 6-3 deficit after two innings, to tie the game with Cole Lankford's RBI double in the fourth, Harrison Bader's run scoring-single in the fifth, and a sacrifice fly from Leobaldo Pina in the fifth.

Carson Cross (1-1) also stabilized the Spikes' mound efforts with three scoreless innings from the third through fifth, facing the minimum. Cross yielded just one hit, but elicited a double play one batter later. The University of Connecticut product got eight groundouts and one strikeout to earn his first professional win.

Pedro Echemendia (2) then finished out the game in the ninth by giving up one unearned run on two hits while striking out one for the save. Tyler Bray also tossed three shutout innings of his own following Cross, allowing one hit while striking out two.

Mariano Rivera III, the namesake and son of the legendary Yankees closer, made the start for the Doubledays (7-10) with his father on hand among family and friend. Rivera gave up four runs, three of them earned, on eight hits. The Iona College product also struck out one in a no-decision.

McKenzie Mills (0-1) followed Rivera on the mound and took the loss after giving up five runs, three of them earned, on six hits and three walks. Mills recorded three strikeouts in the effort.

Six different Spikes delivered multiple hits in the game, with Bader, Cole Lankford and Jose Godoy also producing doubles. The State College runs and hits both set new high-water marks for a single game in 2015, one night after establishing them.

Randy Encarnacion capped off the four-run Auburn first with a three-run homer to left field, his second of the year. Edwin Lora and Erik VanMeetren each collected multiple hits for the Doubledays.

The Spikes will then have an off day on Tuesday before starting a six-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers) on Wednesday. Left-hander Ian McKinney (1-2) will get the start for State College, while Connecticut will go with left-hander Tyler Alexander (0-0).

Fans can enjoy a Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. Outfield Bleacher seats will be available for just $3 apiece, and fans can purchase half-price 16-oz. select domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. 16-oz. sodas will also be available at half-price all evening long.

Other highlights of the six-game stretch against Connecticut and the Tri-City ValleyCats include a pair of FIREWORKS shows, a Myrtle Beach Trip Giveaway for one lucky fan on Friday, July 10 presented by VisitMyrtleBeach.com, Military Appreciation Night with a Spikes Camouflage Hat Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by Lion Country Kia on Saturday, July 11, a Spikes Team Poster Giveaway presented by Fullington Bus Company to go with a Pre-Game Team Autograph Session on Sunday, July 12, and Super Splash Day on Monday, July 13.

Tickets for each game in the homestand, as well as every game 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 Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, 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, 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 July 6, 2015


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