MLBDL State College Spikes

Spikes Take 5-2 Defeat at Black Bears on Friday Night

Published on July 2, 2021 under Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
State College Spikes News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - State College native Kevin Karstetter collected a single in his return to the State College Spikes lineup, and Mark Vierling tripled in a run, but the West Virginia Black Bears produced all the offense they needed in the first inning to top the Spikes, 5-2, on Friday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Karstetter, who became the first State College native to play for the Spikes (14-18) when he took the field on Opening Night May 24, was the designated hitter and leadoff man in the first game he has played since the opener. The State College of Florida product lined the second pitch he saw to right field for a single, and finished the game 1-for-4.

West Virginia (18-9) scored five runs in the first inning, all with two outs, to earn a lead they would not relinquish. Paul McIntosh started the surge with an RBI double, and Ryan McCoy then added a run-scoring single before Kevin Dowdell sent a two-run homer, his second of the season, the opposite way to left field off State College starter Richie Holetz (1-1). Jeron Williams then finished the Black Bears' flurry with a single to bring in the fifth run.

Vierling led the Spikes' response with a third-inning triple to score Damiano Palmegiani, then scored State College's second run on a Marques Paige single in the sixth.

Holetz took his first loss of the season after being charged with all five runs on a total of nine hits over four innings. The right-hander struck out five batters in the effort.

Reliever Patrick Pridgen (1-0) picked up the win with two innings of work for West Virginia. Pridgen retired all six batters he faced, three via strikeout. Trevor Tietz (2) tossed a perfect ninth that included two strikeouts to earn the save.

Saturday, the Spikes and Black Bears finish their two-game mini-series at Monongalia County Ballpark with a 7:05 p.m. matchup on Independence Eve. Left-hander Chase Watkins (0-1), an Oregon State product, is scheduled to make his fourth start for the Spikes. West Virginia is slated to send right-hander Joshua South (0-0) to the hill.

Following the jaunt to West Virginia, the Spikes return home Sunday for what will potentially be the biggest home game in club history. The 5:05 p.m. game against the Trenton Thunder will feature the Central PA 4th Fest FIREWORKS after the game. Tickets are becoming limited for the game, with only scattered single seats available in the main seating bowl, and individual tables available in the Pepsi Picnic Pavilion. Picnic tables are $95 each, and each table comes with ten (10) tickets for Sunday's game, as well as easy access to snacks and beverages throughout the evening, making them an option for fans looking to bring families and friends to the festivities.

In addition, fans making last-minute plans to join the fun can take advantage of the Spikes' expanded hours at the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Ticket Office. The Ticket Office will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday before opening at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The PA Lottery presents all of Sunday's fun as part of the 4th of July Celebration at the ballpark, with an Apple Pie Giveaway for the first 250 fans when gates open to the public at 4:00 p.m. and a Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition after the game.

The Spikes are also home on July 5 with a 4:05 p.m. matchup against Trenton as part of Old School Baseball Day, featuring a throwback game presentation and Trade-Any-Ticket Day. Fans can trade in any ticket they have at the Spikes Ticket Office, whether from another Spikes game, a football game, a carnival or even a parking ticket, and get a FREE ticket for Monday's game.

Tickets for both Fourth of July weekend games can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, starting with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The game can be viewed worldwide on the MLB Draft League streaming platform at MLBDraftLeague.com/streaming, along with the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.

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Major League Baseball Draft League Stories from July 2, 2021


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