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NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Split Doubleheader with Scrappers on Sunday

August 30, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


NILES, OH - The State College Spikes battled back to earn a 4-3 win in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field, after the Scrappers took the first game, 12-5.

Mike Pritchard's two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh and final inning allowed the Spikes (35-33) to erase a one-run deficit in the nightcap and split the twin bill against Mahoning Valley (30-37).

The win, combined with West Virginia's loss, puts the Spikes one game back of the Black Bears in a tightly packed New York-Penn League Wild Card race. McNamara Division co-leaders Staten Island and Hudson Valley are now a half-game back of West Virginia in second place, with the Spikes tied with Aberdeen and Lowell sitting two games behind the leader.

Pritchard, who also notched multiple hits in the first game of the doubleheader, completed a comeback made necessary when Austin Fisher doubled down the first-base line to plate two runs in the sixth inning.

State College had grabbed the lead in the second inning on Thomas Spitz's RBI groundout, and later broke a 1-1 tie when Michael Massi tripled in the fourth inning.

Pedro Echemendia (6-1), who missed out on the chance for his 11th save of the year when he allowed Fisher's double in the sixth, got the final five outs to instead earn the win. Echemendia, the Spikes' pitching victories leader this season, gave up a total of two hits and was charged with no runs over 1 2/3 innings.

Mahoning Valley reliever Yoiber Marquina (2-2) took the loss after allowing both seventh-inning runs on a total of three hits and a walk while striking out two in his lone inning of work.

In the first game, Casey Grayson and Orlando Olivera each smashed home runs, but the Scrappers' 10-run first inning was too much for the Spikes to overcome.

The Scrappers sent 14 batters to the plate and produced nine hits, five for extra bases, in the opening frame. The 10 runs were the most ever scored by a Spikes opponent in a single inning.

Grayson went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in, including his two-run homer in the sixth for his second long ball of the year. Olivera first pitch he saw in the first inning over the left-center field wall for a two-run shot that increased his home run total with the Spikes to five.

Jacob Evans (3-3) took the loss in the first game after being charged with all 10 first-inning runs as he yielded eight hits and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

Jared Robinson (2-3) got the win for Mahoning Valley in the opener as he started and went six innings. Robinson, who had his 25-inning scoreless streak stopped in the first inning, allowed five runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit batsman while striking out one.

The Spikes and Scrappers next meet in single-game action on Monday night at Eastwood Field for the third matchup in their four-game series. State College will send right-hander Jorge Rodriguez (4-4), who pitched five shutout innings in his last visit to Eastwood Field, to the mound for the 7:05 p.m. game. Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander Kieran Lovegrove (1-6) on the hill.

The Spikes will return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Wednesday, September 2 for the final homestand of the regular season. The five-game stretch will include games against the Batavia Muckdogs (Miami Marlins) and Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies). Fans will enjoy two FIREWORKS shows, THON Night, $1 Beer Thursday presented by93.7 THE BUS, Daddy-Daughter Date Night, and a trio of HD Weekend giveaways presented by Aaron's among other highlights.

The fun of the final week of the regular season begins with a Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101, as the Spikes face Batavia at 7:05 p.m. Fans can get into the ballpark with half-price Outfield Bleacher seats for just $3 apiece, then enjoy half-price 16-oz. select domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. and half-price medium sodas all game long.

In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value during every remaining Spikes home game with the College 3-2-1 Special. The College 3-2-1 Special offers any college student presenting a valid student ID at ticket and concessions windows $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites, plus $2 medium sodas and $1 hot dogs all game long.

Tickets for the final five dates remaining on the Spikes' 10th Season 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.

Fans can also purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes home games during the New York-Penn League playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, September 9. Playoff Packs start as low as $16 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 Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, and to order a Playoff Pack, call the Spikes Box Office at (814) 272-1711.

Catch all of the action on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, at 2:45 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Eastwood Field. 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, 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.

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