NYPL State College Spikes

Whalen Smashes Long Ball, Spikes Fall to Crosscutters, 5-3

Published on August 15, 2018 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Brady Whalen delivered his fourth home run of the season with a solo shot in the third, but the Williamsport Crosscutters took a 5-3 decision from the State College Spikes on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Whalen put a 1-2 pitch into the right field bleachers to lead off the bottom of the second inning and tie the game at 1-1. The Spikes (26-31) first baseman had slugged all three of his previous home runs against the Batavia Muckdogs.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair, beginning with Keudy Bocio's two-out RBI single in the second to give Williamsport (24-32) the lead. Following Whalen's homer, the Crosscutters' Ben Pelletier slugged his sixth dinger of the year, also of the solo variety, to make it 2-1 in the fourth.

Stanley Espinal produced a two-out single to bring in a run and tie the game in the third, but the Crosscutters delivered the only crooked number of the game in the fourth. New York-Penn League All-Star Ben Aklinski doubled in the go-ahead run, followed by Jake Holmes's RBI single to push the Williamsport lead to 4-2.

Two Holmes errors in the fourth then gave State College a run to draw within 4-3, but the Spikes would get no closer. Jesse Wilkening clubbed a run-scoring single in the ninth to give Williamsport its final run.

The Spikes shined defensively, with center fielder Wadye Ynfante throwing Aklinski out at the plate in the fourth, and catcher Alexis Wilson picking him off first base in the sixth inning.

Starter Diego Cordero (2-3) took the loss for State College, allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks, one of them intentional, over five innings. Cordero, who saw a streak of five straight quality starts of six or more innings and three earned runs or less come to an end, struck out five in the effort.

Williamsport reliever Austin Ross (1-1) picked up the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Ross gave up one hit and one walk while striking out four batters.

Robinson Martinez (1) earned the save with 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Martinez yielded one hit and one walk while also striking out four batters.

Holmes, Bocio and Jonathan Guzman all recorded three-hit games for Williamsport.

Thursday, the Spikes and Crosscutters meet to finish their two-game mini-series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature left-hander Jacob Schlesener (2-3) on the mound for State College, to be opposed by Williamsport lefty Manuel Silva (1-3).

Fans will enjoy the return of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by BIG Froggy 101, with $1 12-oz. domestic draft beers available from 6-8 p.m.

It's also Princess and Pirates Night at the ballpark, as princesses and pirates of all ages can sail away to the ballpark for a fun evening, and Thursday brings with it a National Rum Day Celebration. Half-price rum drinks available at the Bottom of the Fifth bar on the first-base side and Good Hops on the third-base side of the ballpark.

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 any college student presenting a valid student ID at ticket and concessions windows $3 off their seat in any ballpark section, excluding the Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and Luxury Suites, plus $2 regular sodas and $1 hot dogs all game long.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as all eight games remaining on the 2018 Spikes home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 6:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano 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.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New York-Penn League Stories from August 15, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central