Spikes bitten by Muckdogs' comeback, lose in 10th

BATAVIA, N.Y. - The State College Spikes led 4-0 going into the eighth inning, but the Batavia Muckdogs erupted late to steal a 5-4 victory in 10 innings on Monday night at Dwyer Stadium.

The Spikes (10-7) took the lead in the fifth when Jonatan Machado singled home a run, then crossed the plate himself on David Vinsky 's double. Two batters later, Matt Duce brought in Vinsky with his second hit of the night to make it 3-0, State College.
Stanley Espinal tacked on another run for the Spikes in the seventh with a scorching line-drive double to center field to bring in Vinsky after the latter's second double of the game.
However, Espinal's fielding error in right field to begin the bottom of the eighth opened the door to Batavia's (10-6) surge. Troy Johnston 's two-run double four batters later put the Muckdogs on the board, and then Nic Ready singled home Johnston to make it a one-run game.
In the ninth, another error, this time by Spikes third baseman Brylie Ware , opened the inning and led to Andrew Turner 's game-tying single. Logan Gragg kept the Spikes in the game by leaving the bases loaded with a strikeout and flyout to end the ninth.
After a scoreless top of the tenth, Milton Smith, the leading hitter in the New York-Penn League with a .462 average going into the game, punched a single to right field with two outs to plate Johnston for the winning run.
Spikes starter Adrian Mardueno went four scoreless innings and allowed three hits to begin the game.
Reliever Eric Lex (0-1) took the loss after allowing the Muckdogs' run in the tenth, which was unearned, on one hit and one hit batsman over 2/3 of an inning. All five of the Spikes' runs allowed were unearned in the game.
Batavia reliever Evan Brabrand (1-0) picked up the win after limiting State College to one hit in the tenth.
Luis Flores also recorded multiple hits for the Spikes.
Batavia surpassed State College for first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division with the victory. The two teams will once again clash with the top spot on the line in a 7:05 p.m. matchup on Tuesday at Dwyer Stadium.
Left-hander Enmanuel Solano (1-1) gets the ball for the Spikes, while the Muckdogs have not yet announced a starter for the game.
Following a six-game road trip to visit Batavia and Mahoning Valley, the Spikes return home on Sunday, July 7 to begin a three-game series against the Muckdogs at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Sunday night will feature Bark in the Park II presented by NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC and the Centre Daily Times, where fans can bring their dogs to the park for a night of canine-centric fun and the Spikes will wear special Bark in the Park Jerseys that feature dog photos submitted by fans.
The jerseys are also up for bids through the Spikes' partnership with LiveSource, with proceeds from the auction going to local animal rescues thanks to Metzger Animal Hospital. Fans can place their bids through the LiveSource app now, downloadable at LiveSourceApp.com.
Tickets for Sunday's game, 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 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, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Dwyer Stadium. 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.