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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Net 17 Hits, But Fall to ValleyCats, 8-7

July 11, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - The State College Spikes produced a season-high 17 hits, with three each from Casey Grayson, Jose Godoy and Mike Pritchard, but a pair of homers helped propel the Tri-City ValleyCats to take an 8-7 decision on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Grayson, who added a pair of runs batted in on the night, extended his on-base streak to 20 games, the longest such string in the New York-Penn League. The University of Houston product also stretched his hitting streak to 11 games, also the longest in the league.

State College (10-11) jumped out to a 5-1 lead after three innings thanks to a balanced offensive attack that generated 10 hits over that span. Godoy, who ended up with three RBI on the evening, plated the Spikes' first run with a sacrifice fly in the second. The catcher and then drove in another run with one of State College's five hits in a three-run third.

However, Tri-City (11-11) got a three-run homer to right from Brooks Marlow in the fourth inning to draw within a run, and a two-run shot from Dexture McCall in the seventh gave the ValleyCats their second lead of the game. Bobby Wernes then doubled in another

The Spikes would rally to tie the game in the seventh on run-scoring singles from Grayson and Godoy, but Johnny Sewald scored on a close play at the plate to produce the eventual winning run on Cesar Carrasco's sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Pritchard's three-hit performance also included two doubles, and the Nebraska product scored a pair of runs as well.

Spikes starter Juan Perez went four innings on the mound, allowing four runs, three of them earned, on four hits and five walks before his early exit. Perez also struck out three.

Luke Harrison then tossed two scoreless innings, but left before Tri-City broke through in the seventh. Kender Villegas (0-1) took the loss after yielding the ValleyCats' run in the eighth. The righty went two innings total and gave up three hits while striking out two batters.

Tri-City reliever Adam Whitt (2-0) allowed just one hit and one walk over 2 1/3 shutout innings to pick up the win for the ValleyCats.

The win was Tri-City's first at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in the regular season since August 9, 2010.

Sunday, the Spikes take on the ValleyCats in the middle game of their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, with first pitch at 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Landon Beck (1-1), who is fourth in the New York-Penn League with a 1.13 earned run average, gets the start for State College. Tri-City will send right-hander Dean Deetz (2-1) to the hill.

Fans can get the day started with the Spikes Youth Baseball Clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine. The clinic is free to kids 12 and under with a ticket to that night's game against the ValleyCats.

The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open to the public at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday will receive a Spikes Team Poster presented by Fullington Bus Company. Fans can then get their posters signed by the Spikes at the Team Autograph Session from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Once the game concludes, Penn State Hershey Medical Group will present the second FIREWORKS show of the weekend.

The series concludes on Monday with the annual Super Splash Day game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as Ike's Kids Zone turns into the Splash Zone for kids of all ages. First pitch between the Spikes and Tri-City will be at noon, and fans can enjoy the savings of Buck Day, presented by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

Tickets for Sunday and Monday, as well as every game 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 Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 5:35 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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