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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Halt Skid with 4-3 Win at Scrappers

August 5, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


NILES, Ohio - Stanley Espinal's three-run double in the fifth inning gave the State College Spikes the lead as they held on for a 4-3 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to stop a six-game losing streak on Sunday at Eastwood Field.

Espinal's two-out, bases-loaded extra-base hit to left-center field broke a 1-1 tie and helped propel State College (20-29) to its fifth consecutive victory on the road.

Mahoning Valley (29-18), the team with the New York-Penn League's best record, threatened late. Jose Fermin hit his second home run of the year when a fly ball to left field ricocheted off of the glove of Spikes left fielder Lars Nootbaar and over the short fence in front of the State College bullpen to make it 4-2.

Henry Pujols then drove in a run in the ninth to bring the Scrappers within one, but Gabe Gentner (1) notched back-to-back strikeouts to seal the win for State College.

The Spikes trailed early after Mitch Reeves gave Mahoning Valley the lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to center field. However, Justin Toerner led off the fourth with a walk, stole second, reached third on an error and scored on Kevin Woodall, Jr.'s single to left-center field to tie the game.

Toerner reached base four times during the game, including three walks, to extend his on-base streak to 15 games.

Jacob Schlesener (2-3) delivered an outstanding start on the mound for State College, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk for the win. Schlesener also struck out nine batters, a season high for any Spikes pitcher in a single outing and one shy of the franchise's single-game record.

The left-hander led the way in a 16-strikeout performance for the State College staff, with Will Chanagrotty adding four punchouts over two innings of relief and Gentner totaling three strikeouts in the ninth while yielding one run on three hits for his first save.

The Spikes now look to continue their momentum on Monday when they face the Scrappers in the middle game of a three-game set at Eastwood Field. First pitch is set to fly at 7:05 p.m., and State College will send right-hander Franyel Casadilla (1-1) to the mound.

Mahoning Valley is slated to send a new addition, left-hander Yeffersson Yannuzzi, to the hill. Yannuzzi is scheduled to join the Scrappers tomorrow from the Cleveland Indians' number-one affiliate in the Arizona League prior to his start.

Following the series against the Scrappers, the Spikes will return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a three-game series against the West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates) from August 8-10.

Highlights include a trio of PA One Call Nights during the series, Paint the Park Purple Night along with Ladies Night and a Purple Reusable Tote Bag Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans of all ages presented by Home Instead Senior Care & Juniper Village at Brookline on Thursday, August 9, and a Ki-Jana Carter Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by The Nittany Lion Inn & The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and ESPN Radio 1450 with a special appearance by the man himself and FIREWORKS presented by The Meadows on Friday, August 10.

It all leads up to the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau on Tuesday, August 14. The All-Star festivities begin with the NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice on Monday, August 13, and then ballpark gate open for the NYPL All-Star Game at 3 p.m. on the 14th, with the chance to get autographs from the All-Stars and watch batting practice.

An array of stars led by team captains Ki-Jana Carter and Josiah Viera, plus gridiron greats Blair Thomas and Wally Richardson as well as a cavalcade of legends and celebrities will hit the field for the Celebrity Softball Game at 5 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The All-Star Game will then get underway at 7:05 p.m., with the showcase event followed by a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Tickets for each game from Wednesday through Friday, as well as the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2018 NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice, and every game on the 2018 Spikes 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 Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Eastwood Field. 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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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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