NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Downed by Cutters' Big Fourth Inning in 13-1 Defeat

Published on June 20, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


WILLIAMSPORT, PA - Raul Fortunato's first-inning triple gave the State College Spikes a hopeful start, but the Williamsport Crosscutters used a seven-run fourth inning and a stifling pitching corps to get past the Spikes, 13-1, on Wednesday night at Historic Bowman Field.

Fortunato, who collected three hits on Tuesday night, followed that by delivering a three-bagger to right field with one out in the opening frame. Barrett Barnes then drove in Fortuanto with a sacrifice fly to enable State College (1-2) to take a 1-0 lead.

However, that would prove to be the lone Spikes hit of the game. Williamsport (2-1) starter Jordan Guth and reliever Hoby Milner (1-0) combined to retired 16 of 17 batters from the first through the sixth innings.

The Crosscutters, meanwhile, took their first lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, and widened their lead with seven more in the fourth. A total of 12 batters came to the plate for Williamsport in the inning, with a total of six hits and two walks. The scoring finished with another Croscutters run in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh.

Jodaneli Carvajal, who collected two hits in each of the first two Spikes games, walked in the ninth inning for his only time on base in the game.

State College starting pitcher Jake Burnette (0-1) took the loss, allowing Williamsport's first two runs, one of theme earned, on four hits and a walk. Burnette also struck out one batter. State College relievers Dalton Friend, Pat Ludwig, Lance Breedlove and Josh Smith all made their professional debuts on the mound in the game as well.

Milner was credited with the win for Williamsport after yielding just one walk over three innings of work. The right-hander also struck out four in the effort. Guth allowed the single Spikes run and lone Spikes hit, striking out two.

Mitch Walding led the way offensively for the Crosscutters, collecting four hits, including a double, and driving in four runs while scoring one. Chris Serritella was also a main contributor, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and two runs batted in. Roman Quinn, Brock Stassi and Larry Greene also had multiple hits for Williamsport. The Crosscutters produced six doubles as a team.

The last time State College was held to one hit as a team was on August 4, 2010, in a 10-0 loss to the Staten Island Yankees at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes followed that game with two straight wins against the Yankees over the next two nights.

Thursday, right-handed pitcher Luis Heredia (0-0), rated as the fifth-best prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization by Baseball America, makes his Spikes debut on the mound as he starts for the Spikes against the Crosscutters at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will finish off the two teams' season-opening four game set. Heredia went 1-2 with an ERA of 4.75 over 12 appearances (11 starts) totaling 30 1/3 innings for the Gulf Coast League Pirates in 2011.

Williamsport will counter by giving the ball to right-hander Jonathan Musser (0-0).

The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 6 p.m. will receive a Nittany Bank Nookie Monster Draw String Bag presented by Nittany Bank. It's also Kids Eat N' Play Free Thursday presented by Dairy Queen Grill N' Chill.

Plus, all members of the First National Bank Spikes Kids Club are invited to participate in the Kids Club Kick-Off from 5-6 p.m. in Porter Gardens, with an exclusive Spikes player meet-and-greet. Finally, it's Apocalypse Night, as the Spikes begin the countdown of six months until the end of the world.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, 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 Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:35 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from the concourse behind home plate 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.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

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New York-Penn League Stories from June 20, 2012


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