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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Fall to Doubledays' Big Eighth in 5-3 Defeat

June 28, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The State College Spikes' five-game home winning streak came to a close on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as the Auburn Doubledays' four-run eighth inning dealt them a 5-3 loss.

Despite the defeat on the field, fans from across the Central PA community enjoyed the first-ever National Pride Month Celebration, with the first 500 fans receiving a Pride Hat Giveaway.

The Spikes (9-5) mounted a late comeback bid to try and salvage their home win streak. Donivan Williams scored on a dropped catch error by Auburn (6-7) left fielder Eric Senior in the eighth, and Moises Castillo singled home Luis Flores in the ninth to trim the deficit to two runs and bring the winning run to the plate.

However, Doubledays reliever Jairon Peguero (1) struck out Carlos Soto, then forced Stanley Espinal to ground into a game-ending double play.

State College left-hander Jacob Schlesener started on the hill and logged 6 2/3 strong innings. Schlesener yielded just one unearned run in the opening inning and gave up only two hits during his outing. The southpaw struck out five batters, walked three and hit one.

Cameron Knight's RBI fielder's choice for the Spikes in the fourth tied the game at 1-1 before the Doubledays notched four straight hits to start the eighth. Jose Sanchez, who drove in Auburn's first run with an opening-frame sacrifice fly, brought in the Doubledays' second run with a single in the eighth.

Andrew Pratt then doubled in another run, with a wild pitch and an Eric Senior single plating the other two Auburn tallies.

Spikes reliever Junior Gonzalez (1-1) took the loss after being charged with all four of Auburn's eighth-inning runs on a total of five hits over one inning of work. Gonzalez recorded two strikeouts in the effort.

Gilberto Chu (1-0) picked up the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief work for the Doubledays. Chu gave up one hit and struck out two batters.

Saturday, the Spikes and Doubledays meet for the second game of their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will pit State College left-hander Connor Thomas (1-0) against Auburn right-hander Pedro Gonzalez (0-2). Thomas, the Cardinals' fifth-round draft choice out of Georgia Tech in 2019, earned the win in his professional debut on Tuesday.

The Spikes invite the fairest in the land to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for Princess Night on Saturday, along with the bravest princes. Plus, it's Daddy-Daughter Date Night, with the chance for dads, daughters and even moms and the boys to hang out together and spend quality time. After the game, all family members can run the bases.

In addition, fans will have numerous chances to win big on Super Saturday, presented by the PA Lottery. Also, it's a Saturday Naturday, with half-price Natural Light Naturdays from 6-8 p.m.

The homestand then finishes up with Party Like It's 1999 Night, featuring a special Chris Owen (The Shermanator) Appearance on Sunday night at the 6:05 p.m. game.In addition, the skies will light up after Sunday's game with FIREWORKS presented by the PA Lottery.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday's games, as well as every game on the 2019 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday.

Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Saturday 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.

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