GRANVILLE, W.Va. – The State College Spikes smashed five doubles to grab a 4-0 lead, then received clutch pitching efforts to hold on for a 4-3 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears on Tuesday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.
(Photo courtesy of State College Spikes)
Lars Nootbaar’s two-run double in the third, his first extra-base hit as a professional, completed the Spikes’ (12-19) early flurry, which also featured two doubles for Stanley Espinal and a second-inning RBI double for Wadye Ynfante.
Brady Whalen’s run-scoring groundout in the first put State College on the board.
The Black Bears (11-20), who were playing as the West Virginia Moonshiners, jumped on the board with Nick Valaika’s second homer of the season, a solo shot to left in the fifth inning. Raul Siri then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field later in the same frame to cut the deficit to one run.
West Virginia threatened in the seventh as Robbie Glendinning doubled and scored following three consecutive walks. However, Hector Villalobos struck out Edison Lantigua to end the inning.
Villalobos also struck out Siri with the tying run on third in the eighth, then struck out Brett Kinneman with the tying run on second for the second out of the ninth.
Cory Malcom (4) then elicted a flyout from Lantigua to finish the game and earn his fourth save in as many opportunities. Malcom also yielded a walk in his 1/3 of an inning on the hill.
Diego Cordero (1-0) got the win for State College with a quality start on the hill. Cordero yielded three runs, two of them earned, on six hits, two walks and a hit batsman over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander also struck out three batters on the night.
West Virginia starter Mike LoPresti (1-1) drew the loss after giving up all four State College runs on seven hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings. LoPresti also recorded one strikeout.
Wednesday, the two teams meet at Monongalia County Ballpark for the middle game of their three-game set with a 7:05 p.m. start time. Right-hander Chris Holba (1-1) will make the start for State College, while left-hander Zach Spears (0-1) heads to the mound for West Virginia.
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