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Justin Miller, Doubledays Walk-Off in 10

July 4, 2011

Auburn, NY--With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning in a 5-5 tie, Justin Miller delivered the biggest firework of the night on Independence Day at Falcon Park.


Miller took a one-one pitch from State College reliever Mitch Finemann over the wall in left field, giving the Doubledays a walk-off 9-5 win over State College in front of 2,520 fans at Falcon Park. The grand slam was Miller's first blast of the year and provided a perfect ending to a beautiful Independence Day at Falcon Park.


For the second night in a row, the Doubledays scored the game's first runs, plating two in the first on a two RBI double by Matt Skole. The hit extended Skole's hitting streak to 15 games.


New Doubleday, LHP Christian Meza, was spotless in his first two innings of work, striking out one and retiring three batters on comebackers to the mound. But the Spikes figured out Meza in the third inning, as they took the lead by plating five runs on five hits, chasing him from the game after just two and two-thirds innings of work.


Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the third, the Doubledays would rally. A one out double by Justin Miller, his second double of the game, got things rolling. Miller scored two batters later on an RBI single by Angelberth Montilla, pulling Auburn within two runs. Matt Skole followed with his second double of the game, scoring Montilla and trimming State College's lead to one.


The Spikes lead evaporated in the sixth, when the Doubledays took advantage of two State College errors to score the games tying run. Connor Rowe drew a one out walk, stole second base and reached third on a throwing error by the catcher Samuel Gonzalez. After a flyout by Rick Hughes, Hendry Jimenez grounded one to first base, booted by first baseman Billy Nowlin, allowing Rowe to score the tying run from third base.


From then on, it turned into a pitcher's duel. Chad Jenkins, Greg Holt, and Manuel Rivera held the Spikes scoreless after the third, and Jesus Brito provided a pair of scoreless innings in relief for State College, bringing the game to the bottom of the tenth for Miller's walk-off blast.


With the win, the Doubledays improve to 10-8 on the season and will go for a two-game sweep of the State College Spikes tomorrow night in a 7:05pm first pitch at Falcon Park. For tickets, please visit www.auburndoubledays.com.