UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Fans in Happy Valley saw Cody Gile’s two-run double in the seventh propel the State College Spikes to a 6-3 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Friday night, then filled the infield at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to watch the first 2022 installment of FIREWORKS from the Field presented by Penn State Health.
The spectacular post-game show was the first of five the Spikes will present in the second half of the home schedule. All fans are invited to come down onto the infield at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on each occasion to see the presentations from the Spikes and their official FIREWORKS provider, Starfire Corporation, with the next show scheduled for Saturday night, to be presented by Mount Nittany Health.
The Spikes also held their first bobblehead giveaway of the season with the Wally Triplett "We Are" Talking Bobblehead presented by Boyles Insurance going to the first 1,000 fans. The bobblehead was crafted in consultation with Triplett's family, members of which were in attendance on Friday night. In addition to featuring the legendary back in a pose reminiscent of his performance in the 1948 Cotton Bowl, which gave rise to the use of "We Are" as a unifying cry across Nittany Nation, the bobblehead features a button that plays "We Are" whenever pressed.
In game action, Gile’s two-base hit to left field brought in Marques Paige and Dawson Bailey to break a 3-3 tie. The Illinois State product has now driven in seven runs in the second half of the MLB Draft League’s season, the most on the Spikes (4-4 2nd half). Gile also scored the last State College run on a passed ball.
State College had bounced back from allowing the game’s first run on a Jared Kengott wild pitch in the second to take a 3-1 lead as Rob Morosetti delivered two-out RBI singles in the second and sixth innings. Josh Madole added to the offense with his first run batted in as a Spike thanks to a single in the fifth.
Mahoning Valley (3-5 2nd half) knotted the game up in the seventh on Oscar Ponce’s single to bring in Parker DePasquale and a Jarficur Parker RBI fielder’s choice to score Alex Crump.
Kengott was solid through a season-long six innings for the Spikes, giving up just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters. Jon Beymer (1-0) picked up the win in relief after allowing two unearned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two batters over two innings.
Austin Cheeley (2) allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth but racked up two strikeouts in a scoreless frame to earn his second save and first of the season’s second half.
Scrappers reliever Maddex Richardson (1-2) took the loss after allowing three runs, two of them earned, on three hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings. Richardson struck out one batter in the effort.
Saturday, the Spikes will face the Scrappers in the third game of their four-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 6:35 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander J.D. Daniels (0-1) on the mound for State College in his second start with the club. Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander Isaac Olson (1-0) on the hill.
Fans can join the Spikes and **Mount Nittany Health **to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer at the annual **Paint the Park Pink Night **on Saturday.
The Spikes will take the field in special Pink & Black Jerseys, which are up for bids in a Jersey-off-the-Back Auction on the LiveSource app to benefit the Mount Nittany Health Foundation, which supports the work done by the Breast Care Center at Mount Nittany Health.
In addition, the first 1,000 fans through the gates, which open to the general public at 5:30 p.m., will receive a Pink Drawstring Bag. Plus, the skies will light up with another FIREWORKS from the Field spectacular, also presented by Mount Nittany Health.
After the game, the fun also includes Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health.
More highlights include Scout Night and Penns Valley Community Night, plus another FREE Geisinger Kids Zone! night presented by Friends of Jake Corman on Saturday.
It’s also a Super Saturday presented by the **PA Lottery **and B94.5. Fans will have numerous chances to win big throughout the night, including through another edition of Baseball Bingo.
The homestand will finish up on Sunday with Still Strong Night during the Spikes’ 4:05 p.m. game with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. The activities feature a special appearance from foundation co-founder, former NFL defensive lineman and proud Blue & White alum Devon Still. In addition to Still throwing out a first pitch and being part of the night’s activities, proceeds from the Spikes’ 50/50 drawing for the night will go to the Still Strong Foundation, and fans will have many ways to find out how to support the foundation and its cause.
Tickets for every game remaining in the second half of 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 Flex Books and an array of group and hospitality options for the 2022 season, 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 of the action of the Spikes’ game 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 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.
