NYPL State College Spikes

Trent Hits First 2012 Homer, But Spikes Fall to Doubledays, 5-3

Published on August 9, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


AUBURN, NY - Derek Trent went deep for the first time this season in the second inning to help the State College Spikes take an early lead, but the Auburn Doubledays came back to take a 5-3 decision on Thursday night at Falcon Park to solidify their Pinckney Division lead.

Down 2-0 after four straight two-out hits by Auburn (30-20) in the bottom of the first, State College (26-25) drew even when Trent's two-run home run on a 1-0 pitch from Ivan Pineyro (3-1) traveled over the right field wall. The Spikes catcher's long ball was the second of his State College career. Jesus Vasquez and Jared Lakind then delivered back-to-back singles to set up Jodaneli Carvajal's RBI groundout that gave the Spikes a 3-2 lead.

Auburn (30-20) would come back in the fourth inning, though. Wes Schill singled and stole second base with one out, and scored on Narciso Mesa's single one batter later to tie the game, 3-3.

The Doubledays then moved ahead in the sixth inning against returning Spikes reliever Ryan Hafner (0-1). Carlos Lopez led off the frame with a single, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lopez went on to third when Craig Manuel dumped a base hit into left field, and when Chris Diaz's throw to complete a potential inning-ending double play went wide, Lopez crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.

In the seventh inning, Auburn added an insurance run when pinch-hitter Shawn Pleffner walked, stole second base and went home on Estarlin Martinez's RBI single.

Diaz reached base all four times he went to the plate for State College, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Lakind added a double in a 2-for-4 night.

Hafner took the loss after yielding two runs on three hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings. The right-hander also struck out one batter. Hafner, who put up a 3.11 ERA for the Spikes last year, rejoined the club from the Single-A West Virginia Power late Wednesday night and was added to the roster just prior to the game. Orlando Castro, meanwhile, earned promotion back to the Power's pitching staff prior to Thursday's contest.

Pineyro earned the victory after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings of work. Auburn closer Derek Self (10) picked up the save by setting the Spikes down in order in the ninth inning.

Lopez collected three hits for the Doubledays, but designated hitter Chris Marrero, on rehab assignment from Triple-A Syracuse, struck out three times against State College starter Joely Rodriguez.

The Spikes are now 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Doubledays in the Pinckney Division standings.

Friday, State College wraps up its two game mini-series against Auburn with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Falcon Park. Right-hander Adrian Sampson (0-0), the fifth-round draft choice of the Pirates in 2012, gets the ball for the Spikes. Sampson has struck out 26 batters and walked seven in 25 2/3 innings for State College this year. The Doubledays will go with left-hander Blake Monar (2-3) on the hill.

After the road trip through upstate New York concludes on Sunday, the Spikes will head into the New York-Penn League All-Star break before coming back home to Medlar Field at Lubrano for a four-game homestand starting on Wednesday, August 15. State College will take on the Jamestown Jammers (Miami Marlins) in a two-game set that includes a Canvas Print Giveaway presented by The Spa at Kenlee to the first 1,000 fans of all ages on the 15th. Plus, fans can bring their dogs to the ballpark on a leash or in a crate for Bark in the Park II presented by Metzger Animal Hospital on the 16th.

Tickets for the Spikes' homestand from August 15-18, 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 Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Falcon 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 August 9, 2012


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