NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Down Cyclones, 9-8, in Wild Wednesday Night Marathon

Published on June 29, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - In the second-longest home game in club history, the State College Spikes lost a five-run lead, but came back to beat the Brooklyn Cyclones, 9-8, in 11 innings on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The four hour, 30 minute affair ended when Dylan Tice was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Josh Swirchak with the winning run. Swirchak led off the frame with a single to right before the Cyclones (6-7) tried to nab the lead runner on consecutive bunt attempts by Danny Hudzina and Anthony Ray, and were unsuccessful each time.

With the win, the Spikes (9-4) held on to first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division. State College has now won seven of its last eight games.

The Spikes had staked themselves to a 7-2 advantage after three, with five first-inning runs powering the offense. Tice drilled a two-run homer to the right field bleachers, his first of the year, off Brooklyn starter Merandy Gonzalez to start the State College scoring.

Ricardo Bautista and Hudzina followed the long ball with RBI singles, and a Brooklyn error allowed the fifth run to come in as 10 batters came to the plate for the Spikes in the frame. The Spikes then got a two-run double from Vince Jackson in the third to extend the lead.

However, the Cyclones were able to stay in the game in the sixth when Arnaldo Berrios drove in two runs with a single to trim the deficit to three. In the seventh, two hits and a walk set things up for a Brandon Brosher grand slam off Spikes reliever Greg Tomchick, the first home run allowed by a State College hurler this year.

The Spikes then tied the game in the seventh on Ryan McCarvel's RBI single before the late heroics.

Jackson went 3-for-6 with two doubles and a stolen base for the Spikes, while Hudzina and Swirchak also produced multi-hit games.

Brosher added two singles to his seventh-inning slam, while Jay Jabs collected two hits, including a triple.

Both teams went deep into their respective bullpens, with six pitchers used by State College and seven by the Cyclones.

Brooklyn starter Merandy Gonzalez was chased out of the box after two innings, giving up five runs, four of them earned, in the process. Gonzalez yielded seven hits and three walks while striking out one

Brooklyn reliever Alejandro Castro (1-1) took the loss after yielding the winning run in his only inning of work without retiring a batter.

State College starter Steven Farinaro went four innings on the mound, tossing 86 pitches and 51 strikes in the process. Farinaro gave up two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two batters.

Bob Wheatley (1-0) finished the game with two scoreless innings for the Spikes to earn the win. Wheatley allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.

The two teams combined to draw 19 walks, with Brooklyn receiving 10 free passes and State College nine.

The game was 30 minutes shy of the longest in Spikes history, a 15-inning, five-hour contest on August 30, 2014 against Batavia at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Thursday, the Spikes and Cyclones return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park after a brief respite for a 7:05 p.m. matchup to conclude their three-game series. Right-hander Ronnie Williams (1-1) gets the ball for State College, while Brooklyn will turn to left-hander Joel Huertas (0-1).

Fans can enjoy the return of two ballpark traditions on Thursday, starting with the first Bark in the Park Night this season, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital and NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC. Fans can bring their favorite four-legged friends to the park for a night featuring several dog-related promotions and activities throughout the evening, including dog-themed in-game entertainment and music before and during the 7:05 p.m. game against Brooklyn. For a complete list of Bark in the Park Night rules and policies, fans can log on to StateCollegeSpikes.com.

It's also the return of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. Fans can purchase 12-oz. select domestic draft beers for just $1 apiece from 6-8 p.m.

The fun also includes BB&T Books & Baseball Night, where students who completed the Spikes' reading program will be recognized for their achievements.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians) then come to town for the second half of the homestand, and Fullington Bus Company presents the action on Friday, July 1, when the first 1,000 fans will receive a Team Poster Giveaway. All fans can also participate in a Team Autograph Session with the players from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, July 2, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Cowboy Monkey Rodeo Poster Giveaway, presented by Boyles Insurance, in preparation for the return of the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo on July 16.

The homestand then finishes with a bang on Sunday, July 3 as David "The Bullet" Smith, Jr. brings his record-breaking Human Cannonball act to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Best Line Powersports, home of the new Indian Motorcycle of State College, presents this one-of-a-kind event, with a post-game "Blast-Off." The night will also be capped off with the launch of a fantastic FIREWORKS show, presented by the PA Lottery.

Game times will be 7:05 p.m. for each night except Sunday, July 3, when it will be a 6:05 p.m. start.

Tickets to these games, as well as every game remaining on the Spikes' 2016 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 download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, 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 June 29, 2016


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