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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Fall to IronBirds, 6-5, in 14-Inning Marathon

July 24, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


ABERDEEN, MD - In the second-longest game in State College Spikes history, Mike Pritchard came through with a game-tying, two-out single in the ninth, but the Aberdeen IronBirds prevailed, 6-5, in 14 innings on Thursday night at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

The four-hour, 36-minute contest trailed only the 15-inning, five-hour game the Spikes played against Batavia on August 30, 2014 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the longest game in franchise history. The game was the longest the Spikes have ever played on the road.

Pritchard's two-out single in the ninth enabled State College (15-17) to keep the game going after a 4-0 lead evaporated. The liner to left scored pinch-runner Champ Rowland to tie the game, 5-5.

Neither team threatened in the 10th or 11th, but the Spikes loaded the bases in the 12th before being held off the board. Aberdeen (17-15) then put a runner on third with two outs, but Pedro Echemendia elicited a flyout to end the threat.

In the 14th, Thomas Spitz collected his third hit of the game to lead off the inning for State College, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. However, two groundouts ended the inning.

Kirvin Mosquit then began the bottom of the 14th with a single to right, and Austin Pfeiffer's infield single advanced him to third. With two outs, Drew Turbin hit a groundball to the right side that second baseman Josh Swirchak fielded and tossed to pitcher Luke Harrison (0-1), but Harrison's foot was ruled off the base and Mosquit scored to end the game on what became the Spikes' fourth error of the game.

Spitz's three hits for the Spikes all came in the ninth inning or later, and the right fielder added two walks and a run batted in while also throwing a runner out at third. Leobaldo Pina produced two hits and knocked in a run, while Cole Lankford contributed an RBI double in a three-run State College first.

All of Aberdeen's runs in the game scored with two outs, including four in the fifth on a pair of two-run singles from Ricardo Andujar and Steve Laurino. Andujar added an RBI single in the sixth to give the IronBirds the lead until Pritchard tied it in the ninth.

Harrison took the loss in relief, but gave up just two hits and struck out three while yielding the unearned run to end the game. Kender Villegas and Pedro Echemendia both kept the Spikes in the game with three scoreless innings apiece out of the bullpen. The State College pitching staff totaled 15 strikeouts on the night.

Aberdeen reliever Garrett Cleavinger (2-0) got the win after a one-hit, one-walk 14th inning. Elias Pinales also produced four scoreless innings on the mound for the IronBirds in extra frames, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out three.

Friday, the Spikes continue their road trip as they head to Dutchess Stadium to face the Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays) in the opener of a three-game series. Juan Perez (3-1), the right-hander who was named New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week on Monday, gets the ball for State College in the 7:05 p.m. matchup. Hudson Valley will go with right-hander Angel Yepez (2-0) on the hill.

After the weekend series against Hudson Valley and an off day on Monday, the Spikes will return home on Tuesday, July 28 to begin a six-game string at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Vermont and Lowell will be the opposition during the stretch.

Highlights of the homestand include Dollar Beer Thursday, presented by 93.7 THE BUS, Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure Prostate Cancer Awareness Night, FIREWORKS presented by Vision Creative Solutions and ESPN Radio 1450, Bark in the Park Night presented by Metzger Animal Hospital, and the annual Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Mount Nittany Health.

Tickets for each game of the homestand from July 28 to August 2, as well as every date 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.

Catch all of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Dutchess Stadium. 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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New York-Penn League Stories from July 24, 2015


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.

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