STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The State College Spikes sprinted to a 9-0 lead after two innings, but had to battle throughout the night to eventually topple the Auburn Doubledays, 10-8, on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano park.
Andy Young’s first professional home run, a two-run shot to left-center field off Auburn (15-19) starter A.J. Bogucki (0-3), capped off State College’s (23-11) early surge. However, the Doubledays rebounded to produce 21 hits on the night, and brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth before Brady Bowen (3) elicited a groundout from Clayton Brandt.
The Spikes scored a trio of runs with two outs in the opening frame to take the lead, with Elier Rodriguez knocking in one and Riley Drongesen bringing in the other two. Rodriguez then drove two more runs in the second, followed by a Ricardo Bautista single and an error to knock in two more runs. Young’s homer then capped the six-run second for State College.
However, Auburn got a five-hit night, which was originally a four-hit night before a post-game scoring change, from Nick Banks, who knocked in three runs. The Doubledays also picked up four hits and two runs batted in from Ryan Ripken, son of Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken. The younger Ripken had gone 0-for-11 against the Spikes this season before the spurt.
State College finished its scoring by plating an insurance run in the eighth on Jeremy Martinez’s two-out single to left. The Spikes led 10-5 at that point before Auburn’s late surge, and posted their third double-digit scoring effort against Auburn this season.
Spikes starter Steven Farinaro went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out four before exiting following an 81-pitch effort. Bob Wheatley (2-0) followed by guiding the Spikes out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth, and received the win with 1 2/3 innings of one-run relief. Wheatley yielded four hits and a walk while striking out one batter on the night.
Bowen got the save by recording the last two outs while allowing two hits.
Bogucki took the loss after being tagged for all nine State College runs over the first two frames. The right-hander yielded eight hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out one batter.
State College has now won five of its last six games, and the Spikes’ 23-11 record remains the best in the New York-Penn League.
The Spikes now look to stay unbeaten against the Doubledays as they put their 5-0 record against Auburn on the line Saturday night in the final game of a three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Ronnie Williams (4-1), who has posted six straight starts of six innings or more with three earned runs or less, gets the ball for State College in the 7:05 p.m. matchup. Auburn will counter with left-hander Yonathan Ramirez (2-1).
The chance for fans to make an impact continues on Saturday at Team Ream Day. Fans can help raise funds and awareness for the Team Ream Foundation and enjoy a pre-game BMX demonstration beginning at 5 p.m.
Penn State Health presents more fun with the Spikes Mini-Football Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans when gates open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and after the game, the skies will light up with a fantastic FIREWORKS show as fans can join in the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the 1986 National Championship team.
In addition, if the Spikes hit a grand slam in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game, one lucky fan will share $20,000 with the Team Ream Foundation as part of the Grand Slam Inning, presented by BlueWhiteTV.com. All Grand Slam Inning contest entrants will also receive a free one-year subscription to BlueWhiteTV.com.
It all begins with the Spikes Youth Baseball Clinic at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, presented by Penn State Health. Kids can learn baseball skills from the pros as the clinic starts at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., and is free with a ticket to Saturday’s game. Spikes players will teach hitting, baserunning, pitching and fielding, and will be available for autographs at the conclusion of the clinic.
Saturday is also Central PA Food Bank Food Drive Night, where fans can bring two canned food items for the Central PA Food Bank and receive a complimentary Outfield Bleacher ticket while supplies last.
Plus, it’s a Scratch n’ Win Saturday, presented by P.J. Harrigan’s, and kids can run the bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.
Tickets for Saturday’s game, as well as every game remaining on the Spikes’ 2016 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. 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.
Spikes fans can also catch home games in 2016 even when outside Central PA thanks to the new partnership with MiLB.TV to stream all games online to paid subscribers of the service. MiLB.TV offers fans the chance to follow the game’s future stars across Minor League Baseball, with more than 5,000 games streamed live, including affiliates of all 30 MLB teams, and complete game archives available on demand. Fans can subscribe to MiLB.TV for the whole season at the new lower price of $39.99, or subscribe monthly at $12.99 a month.
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