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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes On Wrong End Of Longball Battle In 8-1 Loss To Valleycats

July 29, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


TROY, NY - Wes Freeman launched his fifth home run of the year for the State College Spikes, but the Tri-City ValleyCats responded with four home runs of their own to top the Spikes, 8-1, on Friday night at Joseph Bruno Stadium.

The ValleyCats' (17-23) home run parade began in the second inning, when Matt Duffy sent a 2-0 pitch from Spikes (12-29) starter Ryan Hafner (0-3) over the left field fence for a solo shot to make it 1-0. After a 55-minute rain delay in the top of the third inning, John Hinson added another solo homer for Tri-City off of reliever Mike Jefferson to make it 2-0.

Freeman would get State College on the board, though, leading off the fourth inning by sending a 2-1 pitch from Tri-City reliever Adam Champion (1-0) to left field for a solo home run. The ValleyCats quickly countered, as Drew Muren hit a two-run shot to right in the bottom of the fourth. After a Muren RBI double in the sixth, Tri-City completed the scoring with Miles Hamblin's two-run homer to right in the seventh inning.

In addition to his home run, Freeman singled in the second inning to become the only Spikes player with multiple hits. State College also turned three double plays on the night, the most in a single game this season.

Hafner took the loss for the Spikes, despite being limited to two innings on the mound because of the rain delay. The right-hander allowed a run on two hits and struck out one.

Champion picked up the win for the ValleyCats despite allowing Freeman's blast, as he yielded just two walks aside from that hit over 4 2/3 innings of relief. The left-hander also struck out three.

The four home runs Tri-City racked up were the highest total against the Spikes in a single game in 2011.

Saturday, the Spikes return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start a three-game series against the Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox) with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. State College will have left-hander Zack Dodson (0-1) on the mound. Dodson is now a full-fledged Spikes player after ending his rehab assignment on Thursday. Lowell will have right-hander Jason Garcia (3-1) starting on the hill.

The Pirate Parrot will be on hand at the park along with Pirates legends Kent Tekulve and Grant Jackson to bring some of that Pittsburgh magic to State College for BuccoMania, and the Parrot will join the gaggle of Spikes mascots for Mascot Mania at the ballpark. Plus, the first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 6 p.m. will receive a Spikes Golf Towel, presented by Boyles Insurance, and $10,000 will be at stake in a special Hole-in-One Contest. Every fan is a winner, too, on Scratch n' Win Saturday, presented by Auntie Anne's and it's a Spikes Student All-Stars night with Post-Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

Groups can also take advantage of the Spikes' new "20 for $200 Special," while Half-Season Tickets are now also available for as low as $110 per seat. For more information on these special offers, contact a Spikes ticket specialist at (814) 272-1711.

Tickets for Saturday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game, 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 at 6:35 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from the concourse behind home plate at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 29, 2011


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