Vierling and Palmegiani go back-to-back in defeat

Scrappers take 9-5 decision on Tuesday night.

Mark Vierling, seen here hitting on Memorial Day, drove in three runs on three hits Tuesday, including a solo homer as the front half of a back-to-back combo with Damiano Palmegiani. (Steve Manuel)

July 6, 2021

BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY (via PitchAware) NILES, Ohio – Mark Vierling and Damiano Palmegiani homered consecutively in the fourth inning to give the State College Spikes an early lead, but despite Vierling’s three hits, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers took a 9-5 decision from the Spikes on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field. The

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

NILES, Ohio – Mark Vierling and Damiano Palmegiani homered consecutively in the fourth inning to give the State College Spikes an early lead, but despite Vierling’s three hits, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers took a 9-5 decision from the Spikes on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field.

The opener of the final series for both teams before the Major League Baseball Draft starts on Sunday featured stellar offensive efforts on both sides. Vierling, a product of the University of Missouri, drove in three runs and notched two doubles to go with his third homer of the year.

The second baseman got things going on the scoreboard with a solo shot to left off Mahoning Valley (19-16) starter Liam Eddy on a 2-0 pitch. Palmegiani then stepped up and sent a 1-1 pitch to left-center field for his second homer with the Spikes (15-21) to make it a 2-0 game.

After a five-run Scrappers fifth, Vierling then delivered a key hit in the sixth with a two-run double to draw the Spikes within 5-4. Nathan Church followed by singling to knock in Vierling and tie the game.

However, Mahoning Valley had more firepower for the late innings, with Dan Harwood, Branden Comia, and Jason Hinchman each providing a run-scoring single in the sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. Sam Crail’s RBI groundout in the eighth completed the scoring.

Hayden Jones homered for the Scrappers as part of the five-run fifth with a no-doubt solo shot to right field that traveled 421 feet for his first long ball in the MLB Draft League.

Spikes reliever Austin Cheeley (2-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk over two innings of work. Cheeley struck out one batter in the effort.

Aaron Eden (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Scrappers. Eden yielded three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three batters. Trevor Olson (1) earned the save after entering a two-run game in the eighth inning and retiring all six batters he faced, two by strikeout.

The Spikes and Scrappers meet for the second game of their three-game set at Eastwood Field on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Starting pitchers have not yet been determined for either team.

Following the series in Mahoning Valley, the Spikes will go their separate ways as they prepare to hear their names called at the 2021 MLB Draft, which will take place starting on Sunday, July 11 as part of MLB All-Star Week in Denver. The MLB Draft League will take a six-day break for the draft, and restart its inaugural season on Thursday, July 15.

The Spikes will return home for their first post-MLB Draft home game on Saturday, July 17, when they take on the Williamsport Crosscutters at 6:35 p.m. Fans can join with the Spikes to fight breast cancer on Paint the Park Pink Night, presented by Mount Nittany Health. The festivities include a Spikes Pink Mask Giveaway presented by Mount Nittany Health for the first 250 fans, with additional masks for sale to benefit the Mount Nittany Health Foundation.

Plus, the skies will light up after the game with the first of six more FIREWORKS shows on the 2021 home slate.

Tickets for every remaining home game on the Spikes’ 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 July 17 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.

State College Spikes