NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Fall to Black Bears' First-Inning Flurry In

Published on August 23, 2017 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Daniel Castano delivered six quality innings on the mound to get within one strikeout of the State College Spikes' single-season record, but the West Virginia Black Bears' four-run first inning was too much for the Spikes to overcome in a 6-4 loss on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Castano's (7-3) five strikeouts during the game brought his season total to 67, one shy of the franchise record 68 whiffs notched by Brad Furnish in the Spikes' inaugural 2006 season. The southpaw yielded a total of five runs, three of them earned, on nine hits, a walk and a hit batsman.

Two of the four West Virginia (35-26) runs in the first scored on an error, followed by RBI singles from Sandy Santos and Julio De La Cruz to put the Black Bears ahead. However, the Spikes chipped away at the lead with Edwin Figuera's single to score a run in the second, Dennis Ortega's RBI double in the fourth and Ricardo Bautista's double to plate another run in the fifth.

State College would get no closer, though, trading runs with the Black Bears in the sixth as Brett Pope singled in a run in the top half and Zach Kirtley's groundout plated one in the bottom half. West Virginia closed the scoring in the eighth on another RBI single from Pope.

Ortega contributed a pair of doubles for the Spikes, while Figuera also produced a multi-hit game.

Reliever Adam Oller (4-3) earned the win for the Black Bears after giving up one run on one hit and striking out three batters over 3 2/3 innings. Blake Weiman (1) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save.

With the loss, the Spikes dropped to four games back of West Virginia for first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division, and 4 1/2 games back on Hudson Valley in the NYPL Wild Card race with 15 games remaining in the regular season.

Thursday, the Spikes face the Black Bears in the rubber match of their three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send right-hander Paul Balestrieri (3-3) to the mound, while West Virginia goes with right-hander Sergio Cubilete (3-5).

Fans will enjoy the return of $1 Beer Thursday at the ballpark, presented by BIG Froggy 101, with 12-oz. domestic draft beers available for just $1 apiece from 6-8 p.m.

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 $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites, plus $2 medium sodas and $1 hot dogs all game long.

More highlights of the homestand will include a special appearance by Hall of Fame pro wrestler Hacksaw Jim Duggan, presented by Nuts For You and Comcast Spotlight, on Friday, August 25, Mifflin & Juniata County Night along with a Purple & Black Hat Giveaway presented by ServiceMaster by Holobinko & Merry Maids and Central PA Food Bank Food Drive Night on Saturday, August 26, and Timber Night presented by the Keystone Wood Products Association on Sunday, August 27.

Plus, all three weekend games against the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies) will feature post-game FIREWORKS shows, and kids can run the bases thanks to Wonderland Charter School at all three games as well.

Tickets to all four games from Thursday through Sunday, as well as all nine games remaining on the Spikes' 2017 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket 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 Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, 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.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New York-Penn League Stories from August 23, 2017


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central