NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Complete Sweep of Scrappers with 5-4 Victory

August 7, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


NILES, Ohio - The State College Spikes took the lead with a four-run third inning, Michael Baird helped it stand up with another strong mound effort, and the Spikes withstood a late Mahoning Valley Scrappers rally to take a 5-4 win and finish a three-game series sweep on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field.

The Spikes (22-29) notched their seventh consecutive road win, and second straight series sweep, with the victory.

Baird (1-2) earned his first professional win after allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings. The 2018 23rd-round draft choice of the Cardinals out of Southern Illinois also retired 13 consecutive hitters at one point.

Edwin Figuera and Nick Dunn, who along with Delvin Perez were named to represent the host Spikes at the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau earlier in the day, each provided key hits in State College's big third.

Figuera followed Justin Toerner's RBI single with one of his own to extend the Spikes' lead to 2-0, and Dunn knocked in two runs with his single one batter later to finish the outburst.

Tre Gantt hit a solo homer in the sixth, his first of the year, to draw Mahoning Valley (29-22) within three runs, but Stanley Espinal tripled in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch to put the Spikes' lead back at four runs.

The Scrappers threatened late, though. After Clark Scolamiero tripled in a run in the eighth, Mahoning Valley plated two in the ninth on RBI singles from Gantt and NYPL All-Star Tyler Freeman.

With runners on first and second and two outs, though, Kevin Hamann (6) sealed the Spikes' win with a strikeout of NYPL All-Star Hosea Nelson to finish the game and earn his sixth save in as many opportunities.

Espinal, Toerner and Figuera all notched multi-hit games for the Spikes.

Mahoning Valley starter Cameron Mingo (2-3) took the loss after yielding four runs, but only three earned, on eight hits and a walk over six innings of work. Mingo tallied one strikeout in the effort.

Freeman went 3-for-5 with two doubles to lead the Scrappers' offense.

The Spikes now head home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start their last home series prior to the All-Star festivities. State College will face the West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates) in the opener of a three-game set, with first pitch set to fly at 7:05 p.m.

Left-hander Diego Cordero (2-2) will take the hill for the Spikes, while West Virginia is slated to send right-hander Nicholas Economos (2-2) to the bump.

Fans will enjoy the return of Half-Craft Wednesday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, with half-price craft beers, wine and spirits from 6-8 p.m. In addition, fans can get into the park with half-price Outfield Bleacher seats and enjoy half-price regular sodas all game long.

It's also a Winner Wednesday, presented by the PA Lottery, with chances to win big all night long, and a BB&T Books & Baseball Night as kids that completed the BB&T Books & Baseball program will have the chance to be recognized on the field before the game.

More highlights of the homestand include a trio of PA One Call Nights during the series, Paint the Park Purple Night along with Ladies Night and a Purple Reusable Tote Bag Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans of all ages presented by Home Instead Senior Care & Juniper Village at Brookline on Thursday, August 9, and a Ki-Jana Carter Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by The Nittany Lion Inn & The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and ESPN Radio 1450 with a special appearance by the man himself and FIREWORKS presented by The Meadows on Friday, August 10.

It all leads up to the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau on Tuesday, August 14. The All-Star festivities begin with the NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice on Monday, August 13, and then ballpark gate open for the NYPL All-Star Game at 3 p.m. on the 14th, with the chance to get autographs from the All-Stars and watch batting practice.

An array of stars led by team captains Ki-Jana Carter and Josiah Viera, plus gridiron greats Blair Thomas and Wally Richardson as well as a cavalcade of legends and celebrities will hit the field for the Celebrity Softball Game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The All-Star Game will then get underway at 7:05 p.m., with the showcase event followed by a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tickets for each game from Wednesday through Friday, as well as the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2018 NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice, and every game on the 2018 Spikes home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, 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, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 7, 2018


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