NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes' Offensive Onslaught Drives 10-7 Win over Black Bears

July 15, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


GRANVILLE, WV - Orlando Olivera produced his three-hit game in the New York-Penn League as the State College Spikes used a trio of big innings to pace a 10-7 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears on Wednesday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Olivera, the Cardinals' 38th-round draft choice in 2015 out of Missouri Baptist University, twice collected three hits in one game in the Gulf Coast League to begin his professional career, but his trio of hits on Wednesday helped get the Spikes' (12-12) offense jumpstarted.

Trailing 4-0 going into the fourth inning, State College put up its biggest frame of the season with five runs to take the lead. All of the runs scored with two outs, starting with Cole Lankford's RBI single. R.J. Dennard then knocked in another run with a single to right, and after Olivera's second hit of the evening loaded the bases, Thomas Spitz cleared the bases with a triple to center to put the Spikes ahead.

West Virginia (10-14) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but State College took the lead once again in the sixth. Dennard and Olivera led off the frame with back-to-back singles, and Mike Pritchard's RBI double combined with Danny Martin's two-run triple to put the Spikes up, 8-5.

Although the Black Bears put up one more surge, plating two in the sixth, the Spikes salted away the win with a pair of insurance runs in the ninth thanks to Casey Grayson's RBI double and Lankford's sacrifice fly.

Grayson extended his hitting streak to 14 games with the two-bagger, and his fourth-inning walk stretched his on-base streak to 23 games. The string of consecutive games reaching base is just three contests shy of Rowan Wick's franchise record, set last year.

Pritchard collected two doubles for State College, while Leobaldo Pina also produced a pair of hits.

Starter Ian McKinney (3-2) picked up the victory after logging five innings on the hill. McKinney yielded five runs, but just two of them earned, on seven hits and two walks. The southpaw also struck out six batters in the win.

Jery Then allowed a pair of runs in the sixth, but kept the lead for the Spikes. Tyler Bray then gave up just one hit over two scoreless innings and struck out three batters to preserve the advantage. Kender Villegas (1) finished off the victory with a perfect ninth, striking out one batter and earning the save.

West Virginia reliever Juan Paula (0-1) drew the loss after allowing all three of the Spikes' runs in the sixth. Paula yielded four hits while striking out two batters.

Logan Hill went 3-for-5 with three RBI for the Black Bears.

Thursday, the Spikes face the Black Bears in the middle game of their three-game series at Monongalia County Ballpark. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Jorge Rodriguez (1-2) starting for State College against an as yet unannounced starter for West Virginia.

The Spikes return home on Saturday, July 18 to start a three-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Batavia Muckdogs. The first 1,000 fans of all ages will receive a Rowan Wick Home Run King Poster presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group when gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m.

Plus, the Spikes will welcome Corey Feldman, the star of a string of 1980's movie blockbusters, to meet and greet fans at Sunday's 6:05 p.m. game, thanks to Comcast Spotlight. Feldman will also perform a musical set after the game with Corey's Angels on the concourse.

Tickets for the upcoming three-game homestand, 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 Thursday 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 Monongalia County Ballpark. 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 15, 2015


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