Castano ties wins record, Spikes blank Auburn

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Daniel Castano matched a State College Spikes single-season record with his ninth victory of the year, and the Spikes kept their playoff hopes alive with an 8-0 win over the Auburn Doubledays on Sunday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Castano (9-3) tied teammate Steven Farinaro 's record set in 2016 by allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over eight innings of work. The eight innings, matching a career high, increased the right-hander's season total to 91 innings, another franchise record. Castano also increased his club-record strikeout total to 81 on the year.
Farinaro ended up completing the Spikes' (39-32) shutout with a one-hit ninth inning.
The win, combined with rainouts that postponed much of the New York-Penn League's games to doubleheaders on Monday, enabled the Spikes to climb within two games of Mahoning Valley for the NYPL Pinckney Division lead and within the same margin from Hudson Valley for the NYPL Wild Card lead.
State College has four games remaining in the regular season, with five games remaining on the slates of each leading team.
The Spikes broke open a scoreless game in the fifth inning with Yariel Gonzalez 's bases-loaded, two-run single. Gonzalez increased his NYPL-leading RBI total to 42 with the hit.
State College then tacked on another run in the fifth thanks to Josh Lopez's single, and scored three more in the sixth. An error opened the door for the first run of that frame, and Matt Davis 's double combined with Brandon Benson 's single to plate the other two.
Wood Myers then completed the scoring with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh.
Auburn (27-44) starter Jackson Tetreault (2-2) took the loss. Tetreault, who had not allowed a run in his last three outings prior to Sunday, ran his scoreless string to 16 innings before yielding the first three State College runs in the fifth. The 2017 seventh-round draft choice allowed a total of five hits and three walks while striking out two batters over 4 1/3 innings.
The State College victory also allowed the Spikes to clinch their fifth consecutive season above the .500 mark and sixth overall in franchise history.
The Spikes and Doubledays continue their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a noon matchup on Labor Day. NYPL All-Star left-hander Andrew Summerville (4-0) gets the ball for State College.
Auburn will send State College Area High School alum Nick Raquet (2-2) to the mound for his second start against his hometown team. The 2017 third-round draft choice of the Nationals pitched five innings and allowed just one unearned run on two hits in taking the loss on July 30 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Fans can bring their four-legged friends for some fun in the sun with the final Bark in the Park of the season, presented by NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC. It will be a canine-centric afternoon, with tributes to man's best friend throughout the game. Bark in the Park rules and regulations can be found online at StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Plus, fans can enjoy Brunch at the Ballpark, with eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, and waffles among the items available at Spikes concession stands, along with a Bloody Mary special at the Bottom of the Fifth bar on the first-base side.
It's also Monday Buck Day, presented by 95.3 FM 3WZ, with $1 Outfield Bleacher seats, $1 hot dogs, $1 small sodas and $1 peanut boats available all game long.
Kids can run the bases after the game thanks Wonderland Charter School as well, and families can enter to win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to a PAW Patrol Live! show at the Bryce Jordan Center from December 12-13.
In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value during every remaining Spikes home game 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 $3 off their seat in any ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites, plus $2 medium sodas and $1 hot dogs all game long.
More highlights of the homestand include $2 Walking Taco Tuesday presented by B94.5, Half-Craft Wednesday presented by 93.7 THE BUS, and THON Night along with a Jesse James Bobblehead Giveaway presented by The Nittany Lion Inn and The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and FIREWORKS presented by Penn State Health on Thursday.
Tickets for each of the four games left in the Spikes' final regular season homestand of the year are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action on Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 11:30 a.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.