NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes fall in walk-off fashion

July 23, 2008 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


LOWELL, MA - Lowell's Jeff Natale propelled the Spinners to a 3-2 victory over the State College Spikes with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. After completing only 4 ½ innings before Tuesday's game was suspended due to rain, the Spikes and Spinners resumed the game Wednesday night prior to their regularly scheduled game.

Following an hour and five minute rain delay, the two teams finally took the field to complete the first game of the series. The game resumed with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning with the score tied at two runs apiece.

The Spinners (16-18) scored first with Ricardo Burgos leading off the second inning with a home run. State College (8-25) responded with a run of their own when Butch Biela poked a RBI-single through the hole at short stop to score Silvio Pena. The Spikes added a run in the fourth inning with Ciro Rosero scoring on a sacrifice fly by Chad Rice. Rosero doubled to left field to lead off the inning.

Lowell added a run to tie the game, just before the players were pulled off the field and the game was eventually suspended. Wilson Ortiz took the mound Wednesday, when the game was continued. The right-hander pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.

The Spinners broke the tie in the seventh inning with Mitch Dening scoring on a Natale double. The Spikes again tied the game in the top of the ninth inning with Rice scoring on Pena's single up the middle.

Owen Brolsma (0-1) came in to pitch the ninth inning, and when it looked like extra-innings were a definite, Lowell's Natale hit a walk-off home run over the left field fence. Brolsma walked away with the loss for the Spikes, his first of the season.

Hunter Strickland (2-2) earned the win for the Spinners, pitching all four innings played on Wednesday. The righty allowed only one run on three hits while striking out four Spikes hitters.

Mike Williams made his first appearance since June 27, pitching the eighth inning. The lefty allowed only one hit in the inning and struck out two. Cole White extended his hitting streak to 17 games, one game shy of the Spikes' record.

The two teams will play their originally scheduled game, with first pitch set for approximately 9:40 p.m. The game will be shortened to seven innings. A full recap of that game will follow.

All the action can be heard on the Spikes Radio Network, 95.3/3WZ or by logging onto www.statecollegespikes.com.

The team returns home on Friday, July 25 for a six-game homestand, the longest of the season. Tickets are available by calling 877-99-SPIKES or online at www.statecollegespikes.com.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from July 23, 2008


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