ValleyCats end road trip with 7-2 loss

STATE COLLEGE, PA - The Tri-City ValleyCats fell to the State College Spikes 7-2 on Tuesday, wrapping up a six-game road trip on Monday with a day game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, in State College, Pa.

After winning one of three games in Williamsport, Pa., the ValleyCats took the first two contests in State College against the Spikes, the team who they matched up against in the past two New York-Penn League Championship Series.

Unfortunately, the Spikes used an early offensive surge on Monday to prevent the 'Cats from leaving Pennsylvania with a three-game sweep.

After Tri-City scored got on the board thanks to an RBI single by Dexture McCall in the top of the first inning, State College responded with one run in the bottom half of the frame, then two in the second, two in the third, and one run each in the fourth and sixth innings, to build a 7-1 lead.

The ValleyCats did score once in the top of the eighth, when Brooks Marlow drove home Alexander Melendez with a double to deep left field. However, that was the last run they could muster.

McCall and Bobby Wernes both went 2-for-4 at the plate for Tri-City, while Melendez, Marlow, Anthony Hermelyn, and Pat Porter added base hits as well.

With the six-game road trip to Pennsylvania now concluded, the 'Cats will head back home, and after a day off on Tuesday, will begin a six-game homestand starting with Wednesday's matchup against the Vermont Lake Monsters.

The 7:00 p.m. contest will be headlined by a celebration of "Christmas in July," with fireworks following the game, presented by Price Chopper.