UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – CJ Richmond led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a 401-foot solo homer, his eighth of the season, and the State College Spikes walked off with a 3-2 comeback win over the Trenton Thunder on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Richmond smashed a 2-2 pitch from newly entered Trenton (17-18 2nd Half) reliever John Higgins (0-2) over the right-center field wall to give the Spikes (19-17 2nd Half) a win that kept them within 2 ½ games of the Aberdeen IronBirds in the MLB Draft League second-half title race with 10 games left in the regular season.
The Spikes tied the game in the bottom of the eighth without the benefit of a hit after AJ Swader gave Trenton the lead with a pinch-hit solo homer, his fifth of the year, to the Outfield Bleachers in right field in the seventh.
Jackson Rains led off the State College eighth with a walk, went to second base on Blake Bradford’s sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on Ryan Rivera’s groundout. After Nyan Hayes drew a walk, a Justin Williams wild pitch scored Rains with the tying run.
The Spikes’ comeback spoiled a quality start for Trenton’s Jackson Thomas, who allowed just one unearned run on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out seven batters over seven innings.
State College closer Patrick Morris (3-1) earned the win as he retired all six batters he faced over the game’s last two innings, three via strikeout.
Starter Haden Luke struck out eight batters over the first three innings without allowing a run for State College but exited after throwing 88 pitches during that time.
Saturday night, the Spikes close out a five-game homestand with the rubber match of their three-game series against the Thunder at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College left-hander Jackson Mayo (3-2) will throw the first pitch in the 6:35 p.m. matchup, while Trenton is slated to open with a newcomer, southpaw John Hacker, on the mound.
The skies will light up with a fantastic FIREWORKS show after the game on Cancer Survivors Night presented by Penn Highlands Healthcare, and the first 500 fans will receive a 20th Anniversary Season Commemorative Poster Giveaway presented by The Nittany Lion Inn and The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center.
Plus, it’s another edition of Kids Run the Bases presented by Mount Nittany Health after the game on a Super Saturday presented by the PA Lottery and Pop 93.3.
Tickets for Saturday’s homestand finale, along with all four remaining home games on the 20th Anniversary Season schedule, are available by calling 814-271-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with hours during home game days of 10 a.m. to the end of the game Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Spikes fans can also celebrate the final month of the 20th Anniversary Season with 20% off single-game tickets and select Luxury Suites at the ballpark with the 20/20 Special presented by The Clubhouse Family Fun Centre at the Nittany Valley Sports Centre.
That's not just 20% off Diamond Club, Field Box, Bullpen Box and Outfield Bleacher seats - even select Luxury Suites from Tuesday to Thursday are 20% off for every remaining home game in our 20th Anniversary Season.
Use promo code AUGUST20 by phone at 814-272-1711, at the Spikes Ticket Office, or click this link: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=19353&promocode=AUGUST20.
Fans can use promo code AUGUST20 to buy and download single-game tickets, and view the 2026 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all the action of the Spikes’ game against the Thunder on Saturday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Steve Jones and 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 6:05 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com.
