Warner's blast sends Spikes past Crosscutters

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Andrew Warner broke a 2-2 tie with a deep home run to left field in the eighth inning to give the State College Spikes a 4-2 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters on Monday night at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Warner's two-run shot, his seventh long ball of the season, came on an 0-1 pitch from Williamsport (22-35) reliever Gabriel Yanez (0-1). The 2018 40^th-round draft choice out of Columbia College in Missouri went 3-for-4 on the night to jumpstart the Spikes' (28-28) offense. Warner is now tied for sixth on the New York-Penn League's home run leaderboard.

Fabian Blanco (2-0) made the State College lead stand with three perfect innings of relief to earn the win. Blanco posted four strikeouts in retiring the last nine Crosscutters batters in order.
Williamsport took the opening lead of the game on Herbert Iser's second-inning sacrifice fly to left field, but State College jumped out in front in the third. Stanley Espinal walked, then advanced to second on the first of two Moises Castillo singles and scored on an error to tie the game. Terry Fuller then drove in Castillo with a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Spikes ahead, 2-1.
Bryson Stott then scored the tying run for the Crosscutters in the sixth on a double-play ball before Warner's towering tater put the game away for State College in the eighth.
Spikes starter Enmanuel Solano produced his team-leading fifth quality start of six innings or more with three earned runs or less. Solano allowed two runs, one of them earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters over six frames.
Yanez took the loss for the Crosscutters after giving up the Warner blast, one of three hits against him. The right-hander also walked one batter and struck out two over three innings.
Tuesday, the Spikes and Crosscutters finish their three-game set as the scene shifts to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the 7:05 p.m. series finale. State College will send right-hander Andre Pallante (1-0) to the mound for the rubber match, while Williamsport will counter with left-hander Junior Tejada (1-0).
The homestand begins with $2 Walking Taco Tuesday presented by B94.5, along with an IC Light Mango Happy Hour with half-price IC Light Mango from 6-8 p.m.
The fun then continues as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians) come to town at 7:05 p.m. for Half-Craft Wednesday presented by 99.5 THE BUS on #814InThe814 Night featuring $8.14 Field Box Tickets.
The series against the Scrappers continues with Spikestock as part of a Woodstock 50^th Anniversary Celebration and $10.59 Diamond Club Ticket Night presented by QWiK Rock 105.9 on Thursday, which will also feature Thirsty Thursday drink specials presented by BIG Froggy 101 as part of the 7:05 p.m. game. Mahoning Valley will then stick around for Bark in the Park III presented by NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC and the Centre Daily Times on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before departing.
The Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals) take over as the opponent starting on the weekend with four games in three days starting with a 7:05 p.m. matchup on Saturday, August 17 that features a David Taylor Appearance with a David Taylor "World Champion" Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by The Nittany Lion Inn & The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and State College's ESPN Radio 1450.  
Saturday's game also includes Mifflin & Juniata County Night presented by The Sentinel and WCHX 105.5 FM, one of three Community Nights on the homestand slate following Lemont Night on Thursday and preceding Huntingdon County Night on Sunday. All three games feature a FREE Kids Zone presented by Friends of Jake Corman.
Then, the Spikes host what is now a 3:05 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday, August 18, featuring a FIREWORKS Night presented by Boyles Insurance after the second game, and a Mini-Basketball Giveaway presented by Penn State Health Medical Group for the first 1,000 fans on Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State Night presented by HRI, Inc.
The giant homestand concludes with Wayback Monday II featuring another Trade-Any-Ticket Night on Monday at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets for all eight games, as well as every game on the 2019 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 clicking here.
Catch all of the action on Tuesday 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.