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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Come Back in Ninth to Top Muckdogs, 5-3

August 22, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


BATAVIA, NY - Down 3-2 going into the ninth, the State College Spikes rallied to take the lead on Jose Godoy's two-run single and held on for a 5-3 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs on Saturday night at Dwyer Stadium.

The win, which was the Spikes' (32-27) first of the year when trailing after eight innings, kept State College 1 1/2 games ahead of West Virginia for first place in the New York-Penn League Wild Card standings. Lowell, Aberdeen and Connecticut are all tied for third, 2 1/2 games back of the Spikes.

The Spikes took advantage of wildness on the part of Batavia (25-34) reliever Jordan Hillyer (1-3) in the ninth, with a hit batsman and three walks, one of them intentional. Orlando Olivera drew the last walk with the bases loaded to tie the game before Godoy provided the eventual game-winning hit.

State College had tied the game on two previous occasions, with an error plating the Spikes' first run in the second inning, and Casey Grayson's seventh-inning double combining with another error to make it 2-2.

Batavia got on the board in the second inning when Travis Brewster singled to right field. Brad Haynal then broke a 1-1 tie with a solo homer to left field, his second of the series and fourth of the season.

The Muckdogs then took the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Taylor Munden doubled, advanced to third on Haynal's single, and scored on Erwin Almonte's sacrifice fly to center field.

Steven De La Cruz (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Spikes after tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. De La Cruz yielded three hits and a walk while striking out two batters. Pedro Echemendia (9) slammed the door on the Muckdogs in the ninth by recording the last two outs, including a strikeout, to strand the tying run on base and earn the save.

Spikes starter Juan Perez went four innings on the mound, giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits. Perez struck out four batters, but was forced to exit after throwing 87 pitches, 58 of them for strikes, in his four frames.

Hillyer took the loss after giving up all three Spikes runs in the ninth. The right-hander yielded just one hit, but walked a total of four batters and hit one over two innings on the mound. Hillyer also struck out two batters.

Muckdogs starter Brett Lilek left the game after 2 1/3 innings with an apparaent injury.

The three hour, 23 minute game was the longest nine-inning game of the season for the Spikes.

State College now finishes off the three-game series against Batavia with a matinee rubber match scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at Dwyer Stadium. The Spikes will send right-hander Carson Cross (2-2) to the mound to face Batavia right-hander Jordan Holloway (3-5).

The Spikes will then play a set of three games against the Williamsport Crosscutters at Suquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field, the Spikes return home on Thursday, August 27 for a three-game series against Auburn. Highlights include the return of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, the 4 for $44 Friday Northwest Family Value Ticket Package, and the Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 29 with a Spikes School Kit Giveaway for the first 1,000 kids.

In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value on Thursday with the College 3-2-1 Special. The College 3-2-1 Special offers any college student presenting a valid student ID at ticket and concessions windows the following special offers:

- $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites

- $2 medium sodas all game

- $1 hot dogs all game

Tickets for the three games from August 27-29, as well as each of the eight dates 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 Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 12:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Dwyer Stadium. 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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