Final Score - Williamsport 2 State College 0
Williamsport PA - Elijah Gill set the table as he and six other Crosscutters pitchers combined to shutout the State College Spikes, 2-0, on Opening Night.
Gills worked three scoreless frames, working around a hit, a pair of walks and a hit batter in his first start of the season. The lefty out of Valdosta State struck out four Spikes batters before getting relieved.
Derek Drees was the first out of the pen for the Cutters, and the right-hander was able to work around a walk, striking out two in his inning of work.
The third pitcher of the night for the Cutters, Zac Czerniawski, would be the one to earn the victory after working a scoreless top of the 5th inning. He struck out one of the three batters he faced.
The Cutters offense had been stymied through the first four innings, but a State College error aided in the first run being scored. With Maury Weaver at 2nd base and two outs in the inning, Travis Holt’s ground ball bounded off the heel of 3rd basemen Kevin Karsetter’s mitt and into left field, allowing Weaver to score the go-ahead and game-winning run.
Williamsport used a new pitcher every inning the rest of the way, as Mauricio Rodriguez, Jacob Kush and Antonio Escano kept the Spikes off the board through the 8th inning, combining to strike out three.
Williamsport added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th inning, again utilizing errors by the Spikes defense. Cole Evans grounded to 3rd basemen Kevin Karstetter, whose throw was late and down the right field line. Evans motored around to 3rd, where the throw got away, allowing Evans to score.
Salvatore Fusco entered in the top of the 9th and despite sporting a 96 MPH fastball, he had trouble with command. However, he was able to work out of a two-runners in scoring position jam, striking out Ryan Blackwell to end the game and pick up the save.
The Crosscutters will head to State College tomorrow night for the Spikes home opener.
Cutters Carvings: Three of the Cutters six hits went for extra bases with doubles from Logan Flood and Blake Mozley and a triple from Travis Holt...Cutters pitching combined to strike out 11 batters and strand 11 runners...Both teams combined to go 0-18 with runners in scoring position...
