Kengott whiffs eight in Spikes' loss at Scrappers

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

NILES, Ohio – State College Spikes starter Jared Kengott took a step towards making his big league dreams come true as he whiffed eight batters, the most for any pitcher across the Major League Baseball Draft League in a single outing this season, over four innings on Thursday night at Eastwood Field in the Spikes’ 4-0 loss to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Kengott (0-1), a product of Emporia State in Kansas who struck out 92 batters over 83 innings for the Hornets this past college season, allowed just one run on five hits and did not walk a batter in his first MLB Draft League start. The right-hander’s eight K’s surpassed Joe Miceli’s six on Tuesday for the most in one Draft League appearance by a Spikes (0-4) hurler, turning heads despite being scored as a losing effort.

The Scrappers (4-0) became the only unbeaten team after four games in the Draft League behind an 11-hit attack that included two runs batted in from Jason Hinchman. Hinchman singled in Mathieu Vallee in both the first and fifth innings. Vallee, who collected a game-high three hits, scored for a third time in the seventh on Jalen Jones’s triple. Jones then crossed the plate on Dan Harwood’s double one batter later.

Cameron Lee, Mael Zan, Marques Paige and Myles Austin collected the Spikes’ four hits, with Lee joining Brady Brecklin as State College players to have reached base in each of the club’s first four games.

Preston Salazar (1-0) started and earned the win for Mahoning Valley after tossing five scoreless frames. Salazar allowed one hit and four walks while striking out two batters.

Friday, the Spikes return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start a five-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Trenton Thunder at 6:35 p.m. Starting pitchers have not yet been announced for either team.

Fans will enjoy the first Bark in the Park Night *of the season, presented by the *Centre Daily Times, as Medlar Field at Lubrano Park will go to the dogs for this popular event. Bring your favorite four-legged friend to the ballpark for a night filled with canine-centric fun. Plus, it’s 4 for $44 Friday presented by 95.3 3WZ, featuring four Diamond Club or Field Box seats, four hot dogs and four small sodas for just $44 – an $88 value.

Saturday, the Spikes meet Trenton for the second game of a three-game set on May 29 at 6:35 p.m. It will be the first Super Saturday *of the season presented by the *PA Lottery *and *B94.5, featuring the first of five Baseball Bingo *nights, before the series finale on Sunday, May 30 with a 4:05 p.m. game as part of *Scott Walker’s Birthday Celebration, honoring Spikes General Manager Scott Walker. Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends also offers something for everyone, with $3 16-oz. hard seltzers from 3-5 p.m., $3 ice cream sundaes all game long, and Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition after the game.

Spikes fans can then come to the ballpark in increased numbers starting on the final day of the month as Medlar Field at Lubrano Park increases to 100% capacity for the club’s May 31 Memorial Day Summer Kickoff at 4:05 p.m. against the Frederick Keys. The Spikes will then start June with a $2 Tuesday presented by WOWY, featuring $2 Walking Tacos, hot dogs, popcorn and Outfield Bleacher seats.

Tickets for each game on the upcoming homestand, as well as every game 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.

Catch all of the action on Friday 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.