Spikes top Crosscutters with late rally

By rscaife
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Updated: June 30, 2018

By BRIAN CARSON

UNIVERSITY PARK – What a way to end a losing streak. The State College Spikes, thanks to a walk-off two-run single by pinch-hitter Stanley Espinal, ended their seven-game losing skid with a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Williamsport on a balmy Friday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Spikes, down 5-3 entering the ninth, made the rally caps count with three runs in the frame. Edwin Figuera started the comeback with a single up the middle, went to second on a balk, and scored on an RBI knock to right by Brady Whalen.

With two outs, Wood Myers singled down the left-field line moving Whalen to third. Espinal took the 2-1 pitch to left scoring Whalen and Myers for the dramatic victory in front of the ecstatic home crowd of 4,421.

State College improves its record to 4-10, while the Crosscutters fall to 7-6 on the season. The Spikes were 0-10 this season when trailing in the eighth.

“It feels good to get the win. I’m glad I was able to get the game-winning hit,” Espinal said. “We needed to come out with a victory tonight.”

The Crosscutters worked over Spikes starting pitcher Jim Voyles in the first inning, coming up with a run on three hits, with Voyles throwing 27 pitches in the frame.

Rafael Marchan started things off for Williamsport with a bloop single to center field. Alec Bohm worked a 12-pitch at-bat before getting the knock to right to put runners on first and second. Matt Pelletier followed with a two-out single to right, plating Marchan.

State College answered with some two-out lighting of its own in the bottom of the first. Wadye Infante reached on a ground-rule double to right, advanced to third on a balk, and scored when Myers singled to right.

Williamsport made it 3-1 in the third when Edwin Rodriguez drilled a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right for a two-run jack that traveled 387 feet. The homer was the second of the year for Rodriguez.

The Cutters kept the big bats grooving when Matt Kroon led off the fourth with a homer to right making the score 4-1.

Matt Vierling, batting .435 on the season, hit his first home run of the season with a 369-foot shot to left off relief pitcher Michael Baird. Vierling, looking dead red all the way, got all of the 3-2 fastball to give the Crosscutters the 5-1 lead in the seventh.

The Spikes rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-3. Joe Gomez led off with a walk, Justin Toerner doubled to left, Gomez scored on a passed ball, and Nick Dunn doubled home Toerner.

State College had a chance for even more in the inning, but Figuera, who singled, got caught stealing, Infante struck out, and the hard luck continued for the Spikes when Dunn tried to score from third after a passed ball, but Cutter catcher Marchan had the ball bounce off the wall into his glove and beat Dunn to home plate for the out.

The Spikes loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth but once again failed to score. Walker Robbins singled to right, while Perez and Lars Nootbaar got on with back-to-back walks. Toerner flew out to right field ending the inning.

Bohm, the third overall pick in the draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, looked the part with an RBI and three defensive gems at third base, including a throw from his knees to get an out at first. Pelletier was 2-for-3 and Vierling was 2-for-4 to lead Williamsport at the plate. Myers was 3-for-4, while Perez and Figuera each had two hits for the Spikes.

Gabe Gentner (2-2) picked up the win in one inning of relief. Luis Ramirez fell to 0-3 on the season with his second blown save. The Spikes out-hit the Crosscutters 13-8.

State College wraps up the series with Williamsport on the road today at 7:05 p.m.