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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Drop 3-1 Nailbiter to Doubledays on Saturday Night

August 29, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Mike Pritchard invigorated the State College Spikes' offense early, and the Spikes held the Auburn Doubledays at bay throughout the late innings, but a ninth-inning burst enabled the Doubledays to take a 3-1 decision on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The loss, combined with wins by West Virginia and Hudson Valley, dropped the Spikes (34-32) into a tie for second place in the New York-Penn League Wild Card race.

Pritchard's stand-up triple in the first inning, followed by Leobaldo Pina's RBI groundout, tied the game at 1-1. The stalemate would last until the ninth inning despite quality scoring opportunites on both sides. Auburn would leave eight runners on base from the sixth through the eighth, while State College stranded six runners over the same span.

Doubledays (30-35) outfielder Rhett Wiseman then delivered his third hit of the night, a two-run single with the bases loaded in the ninth, to break the tie and complete the scoring. Wiseman reached base a total of five times on the night, with two walks also on his record.

Auburn had taken the opening lead of the game when Anderson Franco singled in Kelvin Gutierrez in the first inning.

Pritchard and Casey Grayson each posted multi-hit games for the Spikes.

State College starter Josh Wirsu went 6 1/3 quality innings on the mound, allowing only one run on six hits, four walks including one intentional free pass, and a hit batsman. Wirsu also elicited three double plays, matching a Spikes season high.

Luke Harrison (0-2) took the loss in relief after allowing Wiseman's single in the ninth. Harrison yielded a total of five hits and recorded the only two Spikes strikeouts of the night in his inning on the mound.

Auburn's Jefry Rodriguez went five innings in a starting role. Rodriguez gave up the Spikes' lone run on three hits while notching one strikeout. Reliever Maximo Valerio (1-0) then went three scoreless innings for the win. Valerio did allow three hits, two walks and a hit batsman, but struck out two batters.

Mariano Rivera III (4), son of the legendary New York Yankees closer, then notched his fourth professional save with a one-hit ninth inning.

The Spikes now hit the road to face the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians) in a four-game, three-day series at Eastwood Field in Niles, OH. State College opens up the set with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon against Mahoning Valley beginning at 3:00 p.m. The twin bill includes the makeup of a June 27 rainout at Eastwood Field.

Left-hander Jacob Evans (3-2) is slated to start the first game for the Spikes, with right-hander Carson Cross (3-2) getting the ball for the nightcap. Mahoning Valley will send right-hander Jared Robinson (1-3) to the hill for the opener, while their the second starter of the doubleheader has not yet been announced.

The Spikes will return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Wednesday, September 2 for the final homestand of the regular season. The five-game stretch will include games against the Batavia Muckdogs (Miami Marlins) and Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies). Fans will enjoy two FIREWORKS shows, THON Night, $1 Beer Thursday presented by 93.7 THE BUS, Daddy-Daughter Date Night, and a trio of HD Weekend giveaways presented by Aaron's among other highlights.

The fun of the final week of the regular season begins with a Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101, as the Spikes face Batavia at 7:05 p.m. Fans can get into the ballpark with half-price Outfield Bleacher seats for just $3 apiece, then enjoy half-price 16-oz. select domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. and half-price medium sodas all game long.

In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value during every remaining Spikes home game 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 final five 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.

Fans can also purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes home games during the New York-Penn League playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, September 9. Playoff Packs start as low as $16 per seat and include as much as a $4 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, and to order a Playoff Pack, call the Spikes Box Office at (814) 272-1711.

Catch all of the action on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 2:45 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Eastwood Field. 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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