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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Come Back to Top Black Bears, 7-5, Win Eighth Straight

August 15, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Down 4-0 after the first inning, the State College Spikes hung tough and came all the way back to defeat the West Virginia Black Bears, 7-5, on Saturday to run their winning streak to eight consecutive games.

The win thrilled a record crowd at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, as 6,105 fans filled the ballpark to see the Spikes (30-24) extend their New York-Penn League Wild Card lead to a full game over Lowell. State College also cut its deficit in the NYPL Pinckney Division race to 4 1/2 games behind Williamsport.

Jhohan Acevedo, who knocked in a total of two runs and doubled on the evening, put the Spikes in front in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly to score pinch-runner Champ Rowland. An errant throw home on the same play then scored pinch-runner Craig Aikin with an insurance run.

Pedro Echemendia (5-1) finished the game with three scoreless innings of relief for the win, matching his longest outing of the year. Echemendia yielded just two hits and striking out four. The Cuban right-hander has now earned a win or save in each of his last eight appearances.

The Spikes fell behind in the opening frame thanks to defensive miscues. Daniel Arribas opened the scoring with a two-out single for West Virginia (26-29), and then a dropped foul pop-up kept the inning alive with the bases loaded. Logan Ratledge then tripled in all three runners to put the Spikes way behind early.

However, Mike Pritchard put State College on the board in the third with his second double of the game, and R.J. Dennard singled in a run with the bases loaded to draw the Spikes within 4-2. Acevedo was then hit by a pitch one batter later to bring in another run and make the score 4-3.

Arribas brought in a fifth-inning run for the Black Bears with a fielder's choice to bump the lead back to two, but State College responded in the bottom of the frame. Orlando Olivera's RBI single brought in one run, and Casey Grayson scored on a double-play ball to tie the game.

State College starter Jorge Rodriguez was tenacious on the mound, shaking off Ratledge's triple to retire 10 of the next 12 batters. Rodriguez allowed all five Black Bears runs, but just two earned, on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over 4 2/3 innings.

West Virginia reliever Julio Eusebio (0-3) took the loss. Eusebio was tagged with both State College runs in the eighth, one of them earned, on one hit. The right-hander went a total of two-thirds of an inning, recording one strikeout.

Arribas, Christian Kelley and Albert Baur all produced multi-hit games for the Black Bears.

State College is now just two games shy of the all-time longest winning streak in franchise history, a ten-game string that extended from August 16-25, 2013.

The Spikes will look to get closer to that record on Sunday night as they host the Black Bears in a 6:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Dailyn Martinez (3-3) gets the ball for State College to oppose West Virginia right-hander Jonathan Brubaker (4-4).

The skies over Central PA will light up like never before as the spectacular Pyro Musical FIREWORKS show takes place after the 6:05 p.m. game against the Black Bears. First National Bank will present the show, combining music and fireworks to create the biggest display Spikes fans will see all season.

It's also Star Wars Night at the ballpark, and fans are encouraged to donate to a special clothing drive at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, presented by First National Bank, to benefit the Centre County United Way. Any fan donating to Sunday's clothing drive will also receive a 10% off coupon for the Off the Rack Outfitters team store.

The Spikes will pay tribute to the seat of Centre County as well on Bellefonte Community Night, presented by Swartz Fire & Safety Equipment, as part of the Community Nights series presented by CATACOMMUTE.

The Sunday fun also includes Kids Day, presented by First National Bank, with a pre-game catch on the field and Kids Run the Bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc. Kids 12 and under will also get a free hot dog, chips, soda and a one-time free play pass for Ike's Kids Zone thanks to Dairy Queen Grill & Chill.

Tickets for Sunday's game, as well as each of the 11 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 5:35 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 August 15, 2015


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