MLBDL State College Spikes

Spikes' Stout Pitching Sets Up Success In 9-4 Win Over Scrappers

July 2, 2023 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
State College Spikes News Release


NILES, Ohio- The State College Spikes got a quartet of solid mount efforts from Connery Peters, Major League Baseball Draft League Pitcher of the Month Daniel Padysak, Chris Barraza and Jacob Odle, then took advantage of a spate of Mahoning Valley Scrappers misplays to pick up a 9-4 victory on Saturday night at Eastwood Field.

Peters led the way for the Spikes (11-14) by recording his second straight seven-strikeout performance in four innings on the mound, upping his season total to an MLB Draft League-leading 31 whiffs. The UT-Arlington right-hander allowed three runs on five hits and a hit batsman before giving way to Padysak (1-0), who was named MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Month for June before Saturday's game.

Padysak, who announced his commitment to the University of Georgia on Thursday, went two innings and allowed just one hit, a double, and his first hit batsman in 17 2/3 innings on the mound this season. The right-hander from Prague, Czech Republic, who represented his country at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, also struck out two batters to increase his season total to 24. Padysak is now in a tie for fifth in the MLB Draft League in strikeouts, while his 0.51 ERA ranks third and his 0.74 WHIP ranks second.

Barraza then tossed a scoreless seventh inning before Odle notched five strikeouts over two innings to finish the game and tie teammate Matthew Linskey for second in the MLB Draft League with 29 K's for the season.

Offensively, the Spikes used five Mahoning Valley (9-15) errors, four of them in the third inning alone, to spark their attack. All four of State College's third inning runs scored on the miscues to hand over a lead that would not be relinquished.

Kyle Huckstorf launched his first home run as a Spike, a 398-foot shot to left-center field that brought in two runs, in the seventh inning. Huckstorf also added a ground-rule double in the game. Cam Bufford went 2-for-4 with his team-leading 15thrun batted in of the season.

Scrappers starter Tony Rossi (0-3) took the loss despite all four of the runs he allowed over 2 2/3 innings being unearned. Rossi struck out six batters while yielding two hits and three walks.

Brandon Hylton homered for the second straight night for Mahoning Valley, smashing a two-run dinger 431 feet over the batter's eye in center field in the first inning.

Sunday, the Spikes finish their road trip with a 2:05 p.m. rubber match in the three-game set against the Scrappers at Eastwood Field. Right-hander Gabe Starks (0-0), a college teammate of Peters at UT-Arlington, gets the start for State College. Mahoning Valley has not yet named a starting pitcher.

Following the series against Mahoning Valley, the Spikes return home on July 3rdwith two highlights of the long Independence Day weekend on the slate.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics



Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from July 2, 2023


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