Big innings fell Spikes in loss to Scrappers

BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY (via PitchAware)

NILES, Ohio – Mark Vierling delivered the State College Spikes’ first three-hit game in the Major League Baseball Draft League, and James Jett launched his first homer of the season, but the Mahoning Valley Scrappers collected an array of crooked numbers to drive a 21-6 win on Saturday night at Eastwood Field.

Vierling, a Missouri product, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, a walk, and a run scored, raising his batting average to .321 (9-for-28) on the MLB Draft League season in the process. The second baseman is now the batting leader for all Spikes with at least 25 at-bats this season.

Jett worked the count to 3-2 against Mahoning Valley (9-2) reliever Jacob DeLabio to lead off the eighth before crushing the right-hander’s pitch 435 feet over the second wall in left field for a solo shot. The Lincoln Trail College (Ill.) product then smashed an RBI double in the ninth to add to his output.

Tyler Heckert drew three walks to help the State College (4-6) cause as well.

Despite the Spikes’ hitting highlights, the Scrappers had more than enough firepower, scoring in six of their eight innings at bat, with three frames of five runs or more. Three different Mahoning Valley players – Jason Hinchman, Bobby Sparling and Dan Harwood – collected three hits in the game. Hinchman also delivered a two-run homer in the fourth, his first of the season. Harwood, Jarrod Belbin and Duncan Hewitt each tripled in the game.

State College starter Joe Miceli (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings. Miceli recorded three strikeouts on the night.

Mahoning Valley reliever Deylen Miley (1-0) will receive the win after posting 2 2/3 scoreless innings on the mound. Miley struck out six batters in the effort.

Sunday, the Spikes finish their jaunt to Ohio with a 4:05 p.m. matinee against the Scrappers at Eastwood Field. Right-hander Cade Carlson is slated to start for State College against an as yet undetermined starter for Mahoning Valley.

Following the weekend series in Mahoning Valley, several Spikes players will participate in an MLB Draft Combine at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Monday. The whole team will then return home Tuesday to take on Williamsport at 6:35 p.m. to start a three-game series that serves as the front half of a six-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The stretch of six games through Sunday, June 13 includes $2 Tuesday presented by WOWY, FREE Teachers Night with teachers presenting ID at the Spikes Ticket Office receiving free admission on a Wine Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, and 4 for $44 Friday presented by 95.3 3WZ.

The weekend presents a pair of big nights, with June 12 featuring FIREWORKS presented by Boyles Insurance on a Super Saturday presented by PA Lottery and B94.5. Fans can also win big at Baseball Bingo, with the first 10 Bingo winners entered into a drawing on August 7 for the Baseball Bingo Ultimate Prize Pack, featuring a 70-inch Ultra HD Smart TV.

It all concludes on June 13 with a Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends featuring a Blair Thomas Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 250 fans.

Tickets for all six games on the upcoming homestand, as well as every game remaining on the 2021 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 visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

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, starting with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The game can be viewed worldwide on the *MLB Draft League *streaming platform at MLBDraftLeague.com/streaming, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the *TuneIn Radio *app.