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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes' Playoff Hopes Take Hit After 2-1 Loss to Crosscutters

September 6, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - A crowd of 5,071 fans flocked to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the State College Spikes' regular season home finale, but the Spikes dropped a 2-1 decision to the Williamsport Crosscutters and took a blow to their playoff chances.

State College (40-35) now needs to defeat Williamsport (46-29) on the road in the last game of the regular season and then root for losses by both West Virginia and Aberdeen in order to make the playoffs. West Virginia now leads the Wild Card race by one game, with the Spikes and Aberdeen, which holds the tiebreaker over both teams, tied for second.

The Wild Card winner will face the Crosscutters in the best-of-three NYPL Semifinal Series.

The Spikes produced double-digit hits for the third straight night with 11, but were stymied by three Williampsort (46-29) double plays early. The Crosscutters took the lead in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI single from Austin Bossart, and extended the advantage on an infield single by Jose Pujols in the sixth.

State College then made its comeback bid in the eighth as Orlando Olivera walked and R.J. Dennard singled him to second. After a force play erased Dennard for the Second out, Jesse Jenner singled in Olivera to cut the deficit in half.

The Crosscutters then brought in closer Rob Tasin (17) with runners on first and second, and the right-hander doused the threat by forcing an inning-ending groundout. Tasin then retired the Spikes in order in the ninth to finish the game.

Spikes starter Dailyn Martinez (4-6) provided six quality innings, but took the loss. Martinez yielded both Williamsport runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five batters.

Reliever Luke Harrison pitched three scoreless innings for State College, giving up just one hit and striking out two batters to keep the Spikes in the game.

Williamsport starter Luis Morales (2-2) earned the win with six innings of shutout ball despite giving up eight hits and a walk. Morales force all three double plays that the Spikes grounded into, and struck out two batters.

Olivera went 2-for-3 and added a double to help the spikes' offensive attack.

Fans also bid on the Spikes' alternate blue jerseys, the only constant in the uniform rotation over the club's 10 seasons, throughout the course of the night. A portion of the proceeds went to Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State.

State College now heads to Susquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field for a 1:05 p.m. matinee matchup against Williamsport on Monday. State College right-hander Juan Perez (4-3) toes the slab in the regular season finale, to be opposed by right-hander Jose Taveras (7-3) for the Crosscutters.

Should the Spikes reach the postseason, they will host Game 1 of the NYPL Semifinal Series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against Williamsport.

Fans can purchase Two-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes' home games during the 2015 NYPL playoffs. Playoff Packs start as low as just $8 per seat and include as much as a $4 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Four-Game Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff t-shirt while supplies last. Playoff Packs can be purchased at the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person.

Catch all of the action on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 12:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Susquehanna Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.

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