Spikes take Black Bears to an extra inning contest; Spikes fall in 14

UNIVERSITY PARK – Sporting a seven-game winning streak, the State College Spikes has lofted their overall record to six games over .500 and has greatly increased its chance in the wild card race of the New York Penn League.

On Sunday, the Spikes were looking to add to the winning streak in its second game against West Virginia this weekend.

It was the last game before both teams went into the All-Star break, with 4,477 in attendance to watch the 4-3 win.

But all good things must come to an end but not Sunday as the Black Bears held the Spikes in check until the bottom of the ninth before winning late. Despite going ahead late in the 13th, West Virginia stood tall at the end of the 14th.

Despite the extra inning loss, the Spikes still maintains the lead for the Wild Card at the break.

Dailyn Martinez hit the mound for the Spikes while Jonathan Brubaker did likewise for the Black Bears.

In the bottom of the ninth, State College refused to go away. Jhohan Acevedo got a rally started, singling in his at bat.

Mike Pritchard followed with a simple walk, setting things up for Thomas Spitz. Spitz went 3-0 and went onto load the bases, walking as well.

Orlando Rivera had a chance to put the Spikes on the board, coming up with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Rivera tied things up with a 2-RBI single, scoring Acevedo and Pritchard.

Leobaldo Pina had a chance to win it for the Spikes, coming up with runners on first and second.

Pina advanced both setting down a perfect sacrifice bunt, putting both runners in scoring position.

Jesse Jenner loaded the bases as he was intentionally walked.

Casey Grayson just needed a fly ball to the outfield or hit to win the game for State College, coming to bat with only one out.

However, Grayson went down swinging for the second out.

Josh Swirchak had his chance to be the hero as he stepped to the plate with two outs.

But he flied out to end the inning.

After holding the Black Bears scoreless in the 10^th, it was State College’s turn once again to pull out the victory.

Acevedo got things going, belting a one-out single into the shallows of left field.

Pritchard came up to bat for the second time in the game. However, he popped out for the second out.

Spitz came up to put the game on ice after Acevedo stole second. But a fly ball to right field ended the hopes as the two teams headed into the 11^th.

State College sent down the Black Bears in the 11^th without a run, giving themselves yet another chance to pull off the victory.

But they could not.

In the top of the 13^th, Albert Baur got the Balck Bears’ inning started with a hit that shot past the second baseman. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Daniel Arribas.

Mitchell Tolman put West Virginia ahead 3-2.

The Spikes needed two runs to win or one to tie going into their part of the 13^th.

Orlando Olivera tied it up with a triple into the gap, making it 3-3.

With two out, Grayson had another chance to win the game with runners on first and third and two out.

A Spikes base running miscue cost State College a win in the 13^th.

In the 14^th, West Virginia once again got on the scoreboard upping its lead to 4-3.

State College wasn’t quite done yet. R.J. Dennard opened the bottom of the inning with a single.

Cole Lankford followed with a walk putting runners on first and second bringing up Acevedo.

After fouling off two bunts, Acevedo struck out.

With one out, it was Pritchard’s turn. Pritchard ends the game by grounding into a double play to end the game.

West Virginia scored first posting one run in the third inning.

Alexis Bastardo opened the inning with a sharp single and then moved up to second via a balk.

Teammate Erik Forgione placed down a picture perfect bunt advancing Bastardo to third on a sacrifice.

Albert Baur’s single into centerfield easily scored Bastardo from third.

But that was all State College would allow in the inning.

Brubaker kept the Spikes off the base paths, allowing just one hit through five innings. Martinez was not as lucky as he went through six innings having allowed five rips.

Going into the later innings, the Spikes were looking for some kind of rally to take the momentum. But nothing happened in the bottom of the sixth as Brubaker continued to shine on the mound, sending the Spikes down 1-2-3.

Martinez was sneaky on the mound, picking off two Black Bear base runners at first base.

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