NYPL State College Spikes

Williams Shines, But Spikes Fall to ValleyCats, 6-5, in 12 Innings

July 5, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


TROY, NY - Ronnie Williams delivered another outstanding outing on the mound for the State College Spikes, but the Tri City ValleyCats tied the game with a four-run ninth inning, and won it in the 12th, 6-5, on Tuesday night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Williams, the Cardinals' second-round draft choice in 2014, followed an eight-inning, 10-strikeout performance on Thursday against Brooklyn with 7 1/3 equally good innings against the ValleyCats (9-1). The right-hander allowed just one hit over the first seven innings, and retired 17 straight batters at one point. Williams ended the night allowing one run on three hits while striking out five batters.

However, Tri-City, the top offense in the New York-Penn League, would come alive in the late innings. After breaking through for a run in the eighth inning on Jake Rogers' RBI single, the ValleyCats' first four batters reached in the ninth, capped by Stephen Wrenn's two-run single to draw Tri-City within two.

Randy Cesar then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out, and Taylor Jones followed with a two-run single to tie the game.

However, Brady Bowen would buckle down to strike out two batters and send the game to extras. Bowen would then go on to allow just a walk and record another strikeout in the next two innings.

In the 12th, though, Tri-City got a single from Ryan Birk, a walk from Daz Cameron and a base hit from Ronnie Dawson to bring Wrenn back to the plate for a four-pitch walk that scored the winning run.

The Spikes (13-6) had taken the lead in the sixth on Elier Rodriguez's two-run single, followed by Jose Martinez's two-run homer to right field, his first of the year, in the seventh.

Vince Jackson knocked in a run in the ninth to bump the State College lead back to four before the ValleyCats' late flurry.

Tri-City reliever Sean Stutzman (1-0) earned the win with three perfect innings from the 10th onward. Stutzman struck out four batters as well.

Max Almonte (0-1) took the loss for the Spikes, striking out two before allowing the winning run in the 12th.

Ricardo Bautista and Dylan Tice each collected two hits, including a double, for State College.

Cesar had the first two hits for Tri-City off Williams.

Wednesday, the Spikes finish a three-game series at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the ValleyCats. Right-hander Bryan Dobzanski (2-1) gets the ball for State College against Tri-City right-hander Erasmo Pinales (1-2).

Following the series against Tri-City, the Spikes return home for a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals). Highlights include the Honorary Bench Coach Josiah Viera Bobblehead Giveaway, presented by Northwest, on Saturday, July 9, Military Appreciation Night, presented by Lion Country Kia, featuring a Game-Used Hat Auction to benefit PSU for Local Wounded Warriors and a Mitch Harris Poster Giveaway, on Sunday, July 10, and an appearance by record-setting contortionist The Rubber Boy, presented by 98.7 THE FREQ, on Friday, July 8.

Tickets for all three games, as well as every game on the Spikes' 2016 home schedule, 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 Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:45 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. 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 July 5, 2016


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