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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Fall to Spinners' Late Surge in 9-3 Defeat

July 31, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Orlando Olivera drove in all three State College Spikes runs, and the Spikes' pitching staff struck out a total of 16 batters, but the Lowell Spinners scored six runs in the eighth inning to take a 9-3 decision on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

A crowd of 5,084 fans, the third-largest attendance of the season, saw the Spikes (19-20) take a 3-2 lead in the sixth on Olivera's two-run single. However, Lowell (21-19) responded with a Brandon Magee RBI double to tie the game in the seventh, then sent 11 batters to the plate in the eighth to garner the victory.

Victor Acosta's two-run double broke the tie, with Kyri Washington's run-scoring triple increasing the advantage. Austin Rei's double off the very top of the left-field fence then plated two more runners before Luis Alexander Basabe capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The game was a duel between Spikes starter Landon Beck and Spinners starter Jose Almonte early, with both pitchers retiring eight batters in a row at one point. State College was held out of the hit column until the fourth, but got on the scoreboard with Mike Pritchard's single followed by a walk to Thomas Spitz, a flyout and Olivera's run-scoring groundout.

Beck struck out nine batters, one less than the Spikes' single-game record, over six innings on the hill. The righty yielded just two runs on three hits and two walks, and left the game with the lead.

Almonte racked up six strikeouts of his own, but was charged with three runs on one hit and four walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Matt Kent (3-0) relieved Almonte and went the rest of the way. Kent allowed Olivera's two-run single that gave State College the brief advantage, but got the win after giving up a total of three hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander also struck out three in the effort.

Spikes reliever Jery Then (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs, three of them earned, on three hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings. Then did strike out three batters. Kender Villegas added four more strikeouts, but gave up three runs on six hits over 1 2/3 innings to finish the game for State College.

Casey Grayson extended his on-base string in games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to 21 games with a double in the eighth inning. Pritchard reached base in each of his first three plate appearances to drive the offense early.

Saturday, the Spikes continue the series against the Spinners with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Carson Cross (1-1) gets the ball for State College, while Lowell will send right-hander Dioscar Romero (2-2) to the mound.

Fans can bring their favorite four-legged friend to the ballpark for Bark in the Park Night, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital, Happy 103 and the Centre Daily Times. Dogs are free to watch the game from the concourse and the Outfield Bleachers. Plus, in addition to all of the usual canine-related activities, dogs will also be able to run the bases after the game for the first time ever.

In addition, it's a Scratch n' Win Saturday, presented by P.J. Harrigan's, where every fan will be a winner as each fan receives a scratch-off card with a great prize or discount on it. One "LuCKy" fan will also have a chance to be an even bigger winner with Lion Country Kia Plinko on the field. A new Kia is on the line for the on-field Plinko contestant, with plenty of other great prizes also available throughout the night on the concourse.

Sunday, it's one of the biggest nights on the Spikes promotional calendar with the annual Paint the Park Pink Night, presented by Mount Nittany Health, as the Spikes take on Lowell at 6:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans of all ages through the gates when they open at 5:00 p.m. will receive a Pink Camouflage Replica Jersey courtesy of Mount Nittany Health. Fans can also enjoy FIREWORKS after Sunday night's game.

In addition, the Spikes will wear special Pink Camouflage Jerseys, which will then be up for bids during the game in a Jersey-off-the-Back Auction benefiting the Breast Care Center at Mount Nittany Medical Center through the The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center, with the winners receiving them on the field shortly after the final out of the night is made.

For the first time ever, fans will also be able to literally Paint the Park Pink on Sunday. Selected ballpark areas will be available to paint, with six-inch blocks ready to receive a fresh coat with a $5 donation to The Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center to benefit breast cancer research.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday, 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 Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, 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, 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 31, 2015


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