Spikes Outduel Jammers, 3-1
August 24, 2011 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Jamestown Jammers News Release
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - State College jumped out to an early lead and kept the Jamestown offense at bay the rest of the way as the Spikes prevailed, 3-1, Wednesday night at Medlar Park at Lubrano Park.
State College scored three runs in the ï¬Ârst inning then held Jamestown to just ï¬Âve hits to earn the team's 25th win of the season and drop the Jammers back to two games under .500 at 31-33.
Dejai Oliver took the loss despite dominating State College except for the blip at the start of the game. He went ï¬Âve innings, surrendered three earned runs and four hits, walked two and fanned ï¬Âve.
While the game ended up a pitcher's duel, it looked like it was going to be a slugfest in the early going as both teams scored all their runs in the ï¬Ârst inning.
Ryan Goetz and Austin Barnes had back-to-back singles to start the game for the second night in a row for the Jammers. Brian McConkey then plated Goetz from third on a ground out to second. Josh Adams tried to replicate the formula with another grounder to second; however, Barnes was gunned down at the plate to prevent a second Jamestown run from scoring.
That play proved to be a turning point in the game as State College carried the momentum into the bottom of the ï¬Ârst.
Junior Sosa started the frame with an inside-the-park homer - just the second in State College history - to center ï¬Âeld to instantly tie the game at one. Ashley Ponce followed with a walk then stole second. Wes Freeman singled him in before swiping second. Alex Dickerson also walked, but Freeman got caught napping as he was picked off of second. That helped minimize some of the damage; however, Matt Skirving still tripled to left to make it 3-1.
It was an arms' race from there as neither side had a scoring opportunity until Jamestown sent the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth inning.
Cooper was beaned with one out before Barnes singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. Brian McConkey proceeded to ground out to second to end the threat and seal Jamestown's fate.
Barnes had a pair of singles for the Jammers to account for almost half of the Jamestown offense.
For State College, Sosa paced the offense with the homer, while Skirving had a triple and Dickerson belted a double. Matt Benedict earned the win after giving up one run in ï¬Âve scintillating innings, and Josh Poytress earned his ï¬Ârst save after pitching out of the jam in the eighth and slamming the door in the ninth.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game series Thursday at 7:05 p.m. before the Jammers head to Mahoning Valley to wrap up the 12-game road trip.
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