SPIKES FALL TO DOUBLEDAYS, 7-2, ON SUNDAY NIGHT

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: July 1, 2019

Photos by Kathy Reed

Courtesy of State College Spikes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three State College Spikes produced multi-hit games, but the Auburn Doubledays had too much offense to overcome as they took a 7-2 decision on Sunday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Matt Duce continued his blazing start at the plate with a 2-for-4 night in which he drove in one run and scored another. The Spikes (10-6) catcher is now hitting .452 in his first eight games of the season.

Jonatan Machado and Donivan Williams also recorded two hits each.

Auburn (7-8) took the lead with single runs in the first and second, then extended the lead on Jake Alu’s RBI double followed by Rafael Bautista’s run-scoring single in the fourth.

Bautista, a major leaguer down with the Doubledays on rehab assignment from Triple-A Syracuse, went 3-for-5, scored two runs, knocked in another and stole two bases. Alu doubled twice in the game.

State College starter Scott Politz (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. Politz, making his second pro start and third pro appearance, struck out four batters in the effort.

Reliever Hector Villalobos shined for the Spikes, entering the game with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth and allowing no runs. Villalobos would give up one unearned run on two hits while striking out two batters over 3 1/3 innings.

Doubledays reliever Adrian Martinez (1-0) took over in the third when starter Carlos Romero had to leave the game after being struck by a Machado line drive. Martinez picked up the win with two innings of work in which he yielded one unearned run on two hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out three batters.

The Spikes and their fans were also joined by Chris Owen, who played Chuck Sherman, a.k.a. The Shermanator in the American Pieseries of films, for Party Like It’s 1999 Night, which featured the destruction of two old office printers after the game as well in homage to the 1999 film Office Space.

Despite the loss, State College remained in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division by a half-game over the Batavia Muckdogs (Miami Marlins), who will be their opponent for a three-game road series starting with a 7:05 p.m. matchup on Monday night at Dwyer Stadium.

Right-hander Adrian Mardueno (1-0), the St. Louis Cardinals’ 20^th-round draft choice out of San Diego State, gets the start for State College. Mardueno earned the win in his first professional appearance on Wednesday. Batavia has not yet announced its starting pitcher.

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.