Spikes rally from down four to top Doubledays
STATE COLLEGE, PA - The State College Spikes overcame a 4-0 deficit and came all the way back to draw within a half-game of the New York-Penn League Wild Card lead with a 5-4 defeat of the Auburn Doubledays on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The win, combined with West Virginia's loss, shaved a game off the deficit that the Spikes (34-31) face in the Wild Card race. State College is now just a game back of the Black Bears in the win column.
State College started its rally when Leobaldo Pina doubled to left field to score a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Orlando Olivera then led off the sixth inning with a triple, and scored on Ronnierd Garcia's sacrifice fly to draw the Spikes within one.
In the eighth inning, the Spikes completed their comeback. Jose Godoy doubled off the right-field wall to tie the game, and after two runners were thrown out at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run, a bases-loaded wild pitch scored Garcia to give State College the lead for good.
Auburn (29-35) took the lead with the second batter of the game as Max Schrock delivered his first home run of the year with a solo shot to right field. Jorge Tillero then extended the Doubledays' lead with an RBI single in the second, and Schrock followed with an RBI triple in the third. Kelvin Gutierrez grounded out to score Schrock in that frame and complete the Auburn scoring.
State College starter Juan Perez battled through 6 1/3 innings on the mound, yielding all four Doubledays runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batsman. Perez also struck out five batters and threw 94 pitches, 57 of them for strikes.
Kevin Alexander (2-1) then took over for Perez and earned the win in relief with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Alexander gave up two hits and struck out three batters. Pedro Echemendia (10) earned the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, including one strikeout.
Auburn reliever Mick Van Vossen (0-1) took the loss. Van Vossen was charged with three runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out two over two innings.
Olivera produced three hits for the Spikes, while Pina contributed multiple hits. The win snapped the Spikes' season-long four-game losing streak.
The Spikes also welcomed the Red Land Little League team from Lewisberry, PA to the game. Red Land is set to play in the United States Championship Game against Pearland West of Pearland, TX at the Little League World Series on Saturday.
Saturday, the Spikes finish up their three-game series with the Doubledays at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. After a shuffle in the rotation, right-hander Josh Wirsu (0-1) will get the start for State College in the 7:05 p.m. matchup. Auburn will send right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (3-5) to the hill.
Fans can make the summer last a little longer with the Spikes at the Back to School Bash on Saturday, with a Spikes School Kit Giveaway for the first 1,000 kids.
It's also a Scratch n' Win Saturday, presented by P.J. Harrigan's, where every fan will be a winner as each fan receives a scratch-off card with a great prize or discount on it. Plus, one lucky fan will be selected to play Lion Country Kia Plinko on the field for the chance at a brand new Kia and other fantastic prizes.
Saturday is also Mifflin and Juniata County Night at the ballpark, presented by The Sentinel as part of the Community Nights series presented by CATACOMMUTE. The night includes a FREE Kids Zone! presented by Friends of Jake Corman, and kids can run the bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.
In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value on Friday 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 the following special offers:
- $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites
- $2 medium sodas all game
- $1 hot dogs all game
Tickets for Saturday's game, as well as each of the six dates remaining on the Spikes' 10th Season home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by callling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Fans can also purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes home games during the New York-Penn League playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, September 9. Playoff Packs start as low as $16 per seat and include as much as a $4 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, and to order a Playoff Pack, call the Spikes Box Office at (814) 272-1711.
Catch all of the action on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, 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, 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.