NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Outslug ValleyCats, 9-7, for Fourth of July Win

Published on July 5, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


TROY, NY - Riley Drongesen, Ryan McCarvel and Danny Hudzina all homered, and the State College Spikes pounded out 15 hits en route to a 9-7 Independence Day win over the Tri-City ValleyCats on Monday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

The Spikes (13-5) started the night with three runs in the first, and kept the momentum going throughout the game. After Tri-City (8-10) put up four runs in the first, Drongesen's solo homer to left in the second off ValleyCats starter Kevin Hill (0-1) tied the game at 4-4, with Vince Jackson providing a two-out RBI single three batters later.

McCarvel then continued his hot streak at the plate with a solo shot off reliever Austin Nicely to lead off the fifth, giving him a team-leading three home runs. The first baseman collected two hits and two runs batted in, and holds a .333 average with 10 RBI over the last nine games.

Hudzina then led off the sixth with a solo blast to left for his first professional homer, and the Spikes tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth to give themselves some insurance.

Jose Martinez delivered three hits on the night and drove in a run. Vince Jackson knocked in a pair of runs and produced a double.

After Stephen Wrenn's two-run double and Randy Cesar's two-run single provided the ValleyCats' first-inning scoring, Tri-City threatened in the sixth after Ryne Birk's two-runs single cut the margin to one run. However, Alex DeGoti's RBI fielder's choice was the only other scoring for Tri-City in the game.

The win was the Spikes' seventh in a row on the road, and allowed them to tie Staten Island for the New York-Penn League's best record. State College is now 9-2 all-time on the Fourth of July.

State College starter Stephen Farinaro (2-0) picked up the win after battling through 5 2/3 innings on the mound. Farinaro allowed six runs on 11 hits, two walks and a hit batsman. The right-hander also recorded a strikeout in an 85-pitch outing.

Hill took the loss for Tri-City after giving up five runs on seven hits over two innings on the mound.

Wrenn put up a pair of doubles for the ValleyCats, while Chuckie Robinson contributed three hits.

The Spikes and ValleyCats meet for the middle game of their three-game set at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Tuesday, with first pitch set at 7 p.m. Right-hander Ronnie Williams (2-1), who tied State College franchise records with 10 strikeouts over eight innings on Thursday against Brooklyn in his last start, gets the ball for the Spikes. Tri-City will go with left-hander Ryan Hartman (0-0) on the mound.

Following the series against Tri-City, the Spikes return home for a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals). Highlights include the Honorary Bench Coach Josiah Viera Bobblehead Giveaway, presented by Northwest, on Saturday, July 9, Military Appreciation Night, presented by Lion Country Kia, featuring a Game-Used Hat Auction to benefit PSU for Local Wounded Warriors and a Mitch Harris Poster Giveaway, on Sunday, July 10, and an appearance by record-setting contortionist The Rubber Boy, presented by 98.7 THE FREQ, on Friday, July 8.

Tickets for all three games, as well as every game on the Spikes' 2016 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 Tuesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:45 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. 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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New York-Penn League Stories from July 5, 2016


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