NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Top Muckdogs in Front of 5,733 Fans, Edge Closer to Division Title

Published on August 25, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - A crowd of 5,733 fans, the most to see a State College Spikes game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this season, saw Andy Young hit the 11th grand slam in franchise history as the Spikes scored 15 unanswered runs to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs, 15-3, on Thursday night.

With the win and Williamsport's loss to West Virginia, the Spikes (43-22) reduced their magic number all the way to two. The Spikes gained an extra digit on the magic number by virtue Williamsport's suspended August 11 game against Hudson Valley being unable to be completed.

Due to the circumstances, State College could now possibly clinch a division title on Friday night with a win over Auburn and a Williamsport loss to Brooklyn.

Young's slam, the first for a Spikes player since Jake Stone on July 4, 2014, came off Batavia (17-46) reliever Geral Silva on a 1-2 pitch in the seventh inning. The homer to left was the third of the season for the Indiana State product.

The Spikes trailed 3-0 after Batavia plated a trio of runs in the third on a Corey Bird sacrifice fly, an error, and an Aaron Knapp triple. State College then came back with a vengeance, scoring five two-out runs in the fifth thanks to a Jeremy Martinez triple, Ryan McCarvel's RBI single, a wild pitch, and Mick Fennell's two-run single.

A pair of wild pitches in the sixth gave the Spikes two more runs, and after Young's slam, State College finished its scoring with four more runs in the eighth on two more wild pitches, an error and a Tommy Edman sacrifice fly.

Edman also tied a club record by walking four times in the game, matching Matt Curry's effort on August 4, 2009 against Staten Island.

The 15 runs were a season high for the Spikes, and the most scored by the team since July 25, 2014, when State College defeated Auburn, 17-4.

Reliever Spencer Trayner (1-0) faced the minimum over three innings of work to earn the win for State College. Trayner yielded one hit and struck out three batters.

Batavia reliever Chad Smith (1-2) took the loss after facing four batters without recording an out. Smith was charged with two runs on two hits and two walks.

Fennell and Yariel Gonzalez each produced three hits for State College as the Spikes collected 16 hits as a team.

The Spikes now head to Falcon Park for a potential division-clinching matchup against the Auburn Doubledays on Friday night. The 7:05 p.m. game starts a three-game series between the two teams. Right-hander Bryan Dobzanski (4-5) will get the ball for State College, while Auburn will send left-hander McKenzie Mills (3-4).

Following the series in Auburn, the Spikes will come back home for a three-game series against the Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore Orioles) from Monday through Wednesday. Highlights of the three 7:05 p.m. games include Monday Buck Night, presented by 95.3 FM 3WZ, Tuesday's Bark in the Park, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital and NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, and THON Night on a Half-Craft Wednesday, presented by 93.7 The BUS as The Meadows presents the game.

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.

Plus, in anticipation of as many as four potential September home playoff games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Spikes Four-Game Playoff Packs are now available for purchase. Playoff Packs start as low as just $16 per seat and include 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 Spikes Rally Towel while supplies last.

Fans can purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, or by calling(814) 272-1711 during Ticket Office hours (9 a.m. to end of game on game days Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to end of game on game days Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-game days Monday-Friday).

Catch all of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Falcon Park. 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, Newsradio 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 25, 2016


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