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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes' Big Bats Lead to Extra-Inning Walk-Off Win

August 11, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Wes Freeman collected four hits and Alex Dickerson drove in three runs, but it took Samuel Gonzalez's RBI single in the 10thinning to deliver a walk-off win to the State College Spikes as they clipped the Aberdeen IronBirds, 5-4, on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Freeman doubled three times as part of his four-hit night, becoming the first Spikes (22-32) player to collect a quartet of base hits. The left fielder was selected to play in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game earlier in the day, and fulfilled his selection by scoring three runs, including the game-winner on Gonzalez's single in the tenth inning.

Dickerson drove in three runs as part of a 2-for-3 night in which both hits were doubles. The former Indiana University slugger had a hand in each of the Spikes' first four runs in the game, scoring the tying run in the fourth inning on Chris Lashmet's RBI groundout to make it a 2-2 game.

Aberdeen (19-34) took the first lead of the game in the first inning, scoring two runs off of State College starter Trent Stevenson on a pair of RBI singles, one of them on a bunt by Sammie Starr. However, those would be the only runs Stevenson would yield for another five innings, as he faced just one batter over the minimum from the second through fifth frames.

State College plated its first run on Dickerson's sacrifice fly to left field to score Freeman after his first double of the night led off the game. Lashmet then tied it in the fourth, but the IronBirds scratched a run across on Starr's leadoff double and Wynston Sawyer's RBI single in the sixth inning to make it 3-2.

Dickerson would come through in the eighth with a two-run double, though, giving the Spikes a 4-3 lead. Aberdeen responded with its last rally of the game, tying the score at 4-4 when State College reliever Emmanuel De Leon threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

In the tenth, Freeman led off with his third double of the night, and after Alex Fuselier advanced him to third base on a groundout and Dickerson was intentionally walked, Gonzalez brought him home with the game-winning run on a line drive single to center field.

Vince Payne (2-1) got the win with a scoreless tenth inning on the mound for the Spikes, while Stevenson delivered the longest performance of his professional career with six innings on the hill. The right-handed starter allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out one over six innings.

Aberdeen reliever Devin Jones (1-2) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run to score in the tenth. Jones went a total of two innings, yielding that run on a total of three hits and two walks.

Sawyer went 3-for-4 with both of the IronBirds' runs batted in on the evening.

Friday, the Spikes start the weekend with the first game of a three-game series against the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers). The 7:05 matchup will feature right-hander Matt Benedict (2-3) on the mound to start for State College. Benedict went 5 1/3 innings against Vermont last time out, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. Connecticut will counter with left-hander Matt Crouse (2-1) on the hill.

The Spikes' FIREWORKS shows have wowed fans for six years, but on Friday, the FIREWORKS go three-dimensional with the 3-D FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA presented by Heimer Eye Care. The first 3,000 fans of all ages will receive their very own pair of 3-D glasses in order to enhance their FIREWORKS experience.

It's also a 4 for $44 Friday, presented by MAJIC 99. Fans can purchase four Diamond Club seats, four hot dogs, and four small sodas for just $44. Plus, the Scout Night Sleepover will take place after the game on Penns Valley Community Night, and Kids Run the Bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

Groups can also take advantage of the Spikes' new "20 for $200 Special" by contacting a Spikes ticket specialist at (814) 272-1711.

Tickets for Friday'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 Friday via the Spikes Radio Network at 6:35 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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