UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jayson Summers was nearly unhittable in four innings of relief for the State College Spikes, but the Mahoning Valley Scrappers used a pair of early homers to take a lead they would not relinquish in a 4-0 win over the Spikes on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
With the loss, the Spikes (20-15 2nd half) fell to 1 ½ games back of the Williamsport Crosscutters with five regular season games remaining in the race for the MLB Draft League’s second-half Championship Game berth. The Crosscutters’ scheduled game against Trenton was canceled due to rain and field conditions in Williamsport on Tuesday.
Summers yielded only a ninth-inning single to Oscar Ponce over his four frames and notched five strikeouts as he retired the first 11 batters he faced.
The Scrappers (13-22) took the advantage on Ron Washington’s solo homer, his fifth of the season, into the right-field bleachers to lead off the second inning. Mahoning Valley then added to it in the third when Jeffrey Wehler launched a ball that bounced off the top of the center-field wall and barley tumbled out for a two-run homer, his third of the season.
State College came closest to scoring in the fourth when Luis Aviles sent a ball to the same spot that Wehler’s homer bounced over. However, center field Dom Bucko made a brilliant catch at the wall to rob Aviles of a home run and keep the Spikes off the board.
Mahoning Valley tacked on another run of their own in the fourth when Adam Fogel led off with a double and scored on Ponce’s single to left.
Spikes starter Louis Davenport III (2-1) took the loss after giving up all four Scrappers runs, three of them earned, on six hits and a walk over five innings. Davenport struck out three batters in the effort, putting him third in the MLB Draft League’s second half with 44 strikeouts.
Eric Sapp (3-0) earned the win in his fourth start of the year for Mahoning Valley by going six innings and holding State College to four hits and three walks. Sapp also recorded four strikeouts.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Scrappers continue their three-game series with a 6:35 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send right-hander Joe Battaglia (0-0) to the mound to face Mahoning Valley right-hander Masen Palmier (2-4).
Fans will enjoy a taste of Halloween in August with a Summerween celebration at the ballpark, and wine is half-price from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wine Wednesday, presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars. In addition, the Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy Happy Hour runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as well with half-price Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy.
More highlights of the Spikes’ season-ending homestand include another bobblehead giveaway/special appearance combo as Michael Mauti, the heart and soul of the 2012 “Iron Lions,” will be on hand as part of the night’s activities on Saturday, September 3. Mauti’s bobblehead also going to the first 1,000 fans of all ages, presented by Penn State Health.
In addition, fans will be thrilled by the chance to see another spectacular display light up the Happy Valley skies from the ballpark infield as part of FIREWORKS from the Field, with **Starfire Corporation **presenting the show on Sunday, September 4 at the **Fan Appreciation Night **regular season finale presented by Lion Country Kia, featuring one LuCKy fan driving home a winner with LuCKy’s Kia Giveaway.
Plus, fans will enjoy the last Thirsty Thursday of the season with $2 16-oz. select drafts and $4 16-oz. craft drafts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday as well as the last **Bark in the Park **of the season, presented by the Centre Daily Times, on Friday, September 2.
Tickets for each of the six games remaining on the Spikes’ biggest regular season home schedule in franchise history are available now. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2022 promotional schedule, at the only source for authentic Spikes tickets online by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
More ticket packages, including an array of group and hospitality options for the 2022 season and for football Saturdays in the fall, are currently on sale by calling the Spikes at (814) 272-1711. Additional information on all club ticketing options, as well as team news and schedule info, can be viewed at StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all the action of the Spikes’ game on Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Joe Putnam on the call. The broadcast starts with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park starting at approximately 6:10 p.m.
The game can be viewed worldwide on the **MLB Draft League **streaming platform at MLBDraftLeague.com/streaming, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the **TuneIn Radio **app.
