NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Rally Late to Stop Slide with 8-6 Win over Scrappers

Published on July 18, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Jacob Stallings and Jodaneli Carvajal each produced two hits and two runs batted in, and the State College Spikes used a late surge to outlast the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in an 8-6 victory at Eastwood Field on Wednesday night.

State College (15-15) trailed, 6-5, entering the eighth inning, but plated three runs in the frame to take the win. Yhonathan Barrios led off the frame with a ground-rule double, and after a single by Carvajal, scored on Rodarrick Jones's RBI groundout to tie the game. Alex Fuselier then singled and Barrett Barnes followed with a double to score two more runs and give the Spikes a lead they would not relinquish.

Mahoning Valley (15-15) took the initial lead in the back-and-forth game when Joey Wendle homered to right-center field off of Spikes starter Luis Heredia in the first inning to make it 1-0. State College responded with a pair of runs in the second inning when Jared Lakind produced a sacrifice fly and Carvajal singled in another run.

The Scrappers would go on to tie the game in the bottom half of the second when Hunter Jones knocked in Jeremy Lucas with an RBI single. In the fourth, though, State College regained the lead on Carvajal's sacrifice fly. The Spikes then extended their lead when Stallings drove in two runs with a single in the fifth, making the score 5-2.

However, Mahoning Valley scratched a run across in the fifth inning to draw within two, then delivered three runs in the sixth on Erik Gonzalez's two-run double, an error and a single by Jones to set up the Spikes' comeback in the eighth.

Barnes joined Stallings and Carvajal with multiple hits and added two stolen bases as well to bump his season total to a team-leading nine.

Pat Ludwig (2-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief from the sixth through eighth innings to earn the win. Ludwig yielded just two hits and struck out two batters, both in the sixth inning. Kyle Haynes (3) allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth before striking out the side to get the save.

Heredia did not receive a decision after allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits and a walk. The 17-year-old right-hander also struck out three over his five innings of work. The first-inning home run by Wendle was the first long ball off of Heredia this season.

Reliever Luis Morel (1-1) took the loss for Mahoning Valley, allowing all three of the Spikes' eighth-inning runs on a total of five hits over three innings. Morel struck out three in the effort as well.

Lucas went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for the Scrappers, while Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with a pair of two-base hits and another two runs scored.

The win snapped a season-long four-game losing streak for the Spikes, and marked the first time this season that both the Spikes and their opponents scored at least six runs.

Thursday, the Spikes return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start a four-game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies) with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. The teams will alternate home sites for each game of the series. State College will send 19-year-old right-hander Clay Holmes (2-1) to the mound to face Williamsport right-hander Josh Warner (2-1).

The Spikes will start a stretch of four home games in six nights as the first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 5:45 for season ticket holders and 6 p.m. to the public will receive a "Dark Spike" Mini-Bobblehead Doll, presented by P.J. Harrigan's. Plus, it's Heroes Night, as the Spikes honor the real heroes of our community - the police, fire and emergency professionals who help keep us safe.

Kids 12 and under can also get a voucher for a free hot dog, chips and small soda as well as a one-time free-play pass to Ike's Kids Zone on Kids Eat N' Play Free Thursday, presented by Dairy Queen Grill & Chill. Fans can also bring old papers to Skills of Central PA's Pre-Game Recycling Event, and fans presenting their Nittany Bank credit or debit cards can get a $4 discount on any ticket in the ballpark excluding suites and picnics.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, 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 Sports Medicine, at 6:35 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from 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 18, 2012


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