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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Dulled by ValleyCats' Big First Inning in 9-5 Loss

July 28, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


TROY, NY - State College Spikes pitching was touched for eight runs in the first inning, the highest total allowed by the Spikes in one inning this year, which proved to be the difference as they fell to the Tri-City ValleyCats, 9-5, on Thursday night at Joseph Bruno Stadium.

State College (12-28) scored the first run of the game when Alex Fuselierwalked, advanced to second on a groundout, stole third and crossed the plate on the ensuing throwing error by Tri-City (16-23) catcher Miles Hamblin. However, the ValleyCats quickly recouped that run and more, chasing Spikes starter Stetson Allie (0-2) from the game after five batters.

Allie yielded a leadoff double to John Hinson, and after an error, walked a batter and hit Zach Johnson and Brandon Meredith with pitches to force in a pair of runs. The 2010 second-round draft pick was then lifted with the bases loaded in favor of Vince Payne, who allowed four straight hits that resulted in another five runs, three of which were assessed to Allie. Payne then recorded three straight outs, including a sacrifice fly that brought in Tri-City's final run of the frame.

The Spikes battled back after the ValleyCats' flurry to score three more runs of their own in the second inning. Matt Skirving led off with a walk, then came around to score on a fielder's choice by Fuselier. Kirk Singerthen scored on the second wild pitch by Tri-City starter Euris Quezada, with Alex Dickerson plating Fuslier to make it 8-4.

The ValleyCats added their final run in the bottom half of the second after Matt Duffy, who contributed a two-run single to Tri-City's outburst in the initial frame, doubled in another run to make it 9-4, ValleyCats. State College finished off the scoring when Dickerson drove in a run with a sixth-inning fielder's choice. Although his four-game streak of multi-hit performances came to a halt, the Indiana product had the only multiple-RBI game for the Spikes.

Allie suffered his second professional loss as he allowed a total of five runs, four of them earned, on a hit, a walk and two hit batsmen. Jordan Cooper pitched three innings beginning with the second and allowed a run on two hits and a pair of walks. Trent Stevenson made his 2011 Spikes debut, shutting out Tri-City on three hits and a walk over four innings of work in his return to the club.

After Quezada got into trouble in the second inning, Dayan Diaz (4-2) came on and picked up the win by allowing one run over 3 2/3 innings. Diaz gave up two hits and two walks, but struck out seven batters during his time on the mound.

Friday, the Spikes and ValleyCats finish their three-game series with a 7 p.m. matchup at Joseph Bruno Stadium. State College will have right-hander Ryan Hafner (0-2) on the mound as he seeks his first professional win. Tri-City will go with left-hander Kyle Hallock (2-2), whose 2.12 ERA and 0.88 WHIP both rank among the top marks in the New York-Penn League.

The Spikes will be back at home for a three-game homestand against the Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox) starting on Saturday, July 30 with a 7:05 matchup. The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 6 p.m. will receive a Spikes Golf Towel, presented by Boyles Insurance, and $10,000 will be at stake in a special Hole-in-One Contest! Plus, the Pirate Parrot will bring some of that Pittsburgh magic to State College and join the gaggle of Spikes mascots for Mascot Mania/Bucco Mania at the ballpark! Every fan is a winner, too, on Scratch n' Win Saturday, presented by Auntie Anne's and it's a Spikes Student All-Stars night with Post-Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

Groups can also take advantage of the Spikes' new "20 for $200 Special," while Half-Season Tickets are now also available for as low as $110 per seat. For more information on these special offers, contact a Spikes ticket specialist at (814) 272-1711

Tickets for Saturday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game, 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 Friday via the Spikes Radio Network at 6:45 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Joseph Bruno Stadium. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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