Crosscutters Fall to Spikes in Rubber Match

The Crosscutters came to State College with hopes of taking the rubber match of the Sawbuck Series. It didn't go their way as the Cutters fall to the Spikes 8-3 on Thursday night. 

In the top of the second, designated hitter Andrew Knapp reached on an error by Spikes starting pitcher Jimmy Reed. Following a walk by first baseman Logan Pierce and a strikeout by catcher Gabriel Lino, left fielder Justin Parr singled up the middle to score Knapp from second. Centerfielder Gustavo Martinez singled to right field and Pierce scored from second to make it 2-0 Williamsport.

After retiring the first two batters in the fourth, Crosscutters pitcher Josh Warner's night fell apart. After an infield single by Spies catcher Luke Voit, shortstop Michael Schulze doubled to right. Center fielder Steven Ramos hit an RBI single to center to score Voit and Schulze and Ramos advanced on a fielding error by Parr to score Voit. Right fielder Jimmy Bosco singled to right and Ramos scored easily. 

Warner's night was over after he retired designated hitter Cesar Valera. 

State College would score three more runs in the fifth. After back-to-back singles by second baseman Bruce Caldwell and first baseman David Washington, left fielder Ronald Castillo singled to center field and Caldwell came in to score. Following an infield single by Carson Kelly, Voit made it to first courtesy of a fielding error by Pierce. Washington scored from third. Schulze hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Castillo. 

The Spikes put another run on the board in the seventh. Castillo singled to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Chris Burgess. Castillo went to third on a force out by Voit and scored on another wild pitch on Burgess. 

Williamsport responded with only one run in the eighth. Right fielder Dylan Cozens led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Knapp. Cozens would score on a single by Logan Pierce. 

State College put the game away with an RBI single by Castillo, who scored Caldwell.  

Warner allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Spikes reliever Kevin Herget picks up the win while allowing three hits, a walk and a strikeout in three and one thirds innings. 

The Crosscutters continue their four-game road trip on Friday as the take on the Jamestown Jammers for the first time in 2013. First pitch is at 7:05 P.M. Listen to every Cutters game on ESPN 1050, 104.1, 1600, or crosscutters.com.