UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The FIREWORKS From the Field slate starts on Thursday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, but Payton Harden gave State College Spikes fans an early taste of that energy with a walk-off double down the left field line to send the Spikes past the Trenton Thunder, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Harden lined a 1-0 pitch inside the stripe to bring in pinch-runner Zac Vooletich with the game-winning run and give him his third double of the evening. The McNeese State product already scored the winning run on a game-ending, ninth-inning wild pitch in the second half opener of the Major League Baseball Draft League season on July 7.
The walk-off win put the exclamation point on a pitcher’s duel that featured quality starts on both sides. Spikes (11-10 2nd Half) starter Sebastian Rodriguez improved on an outstanding performance in his first start last Tuesday with the longest outing by any State College pitcher to date in 2023. Rodriguez lasted seven inning and yielded two runs, with only one earned due to a first-inning error, on four hits and a walk.
The Point Park (Pa.) product also recorded seven strikeouts for the second straight start, and threw 95 pitches, 63 of them for strikes.
Reliever Justin Miller (2-0) followed Rodriguez on the mound and earned the win with two scoreless innings. Miller allowed two walks and no hits while striking out four batters.
Trenton (10-9 2nd Half) starter Lane Miller also starred on the hill, giving up one run on four hits and a walk while recording nine strikeouts, a season high for any Thunder hurler.
After Trenton (10-9 2nd Half) took the lead in the first as Kolby Johnson reached base via error, stole second base and scored on Ramon Jimenez’s groundout, the Spikes tied the game in the fifth with Harden’s first double of the night, a Carlos Contreras single, and a Thunder error to bring in Harden.
Angel Mendoza doubled in Justin Guerrera with two outs in the seventh to put Trenton out in front again, but Josh Leslie knocked in Harden from second after his second double of the game to tie the score at 2-2 in the bottom half.
Logan Mathieu led off the bottom of the ninth with a long fly ball to center for a double before being lifted for Vooletich. Marques Paige then walked to set up Harden’s heroics two batters later.
David Stiehl (0-1) took the loss after entering the game in the ninth and allowing the winning run.
Contreras also put together a three-hit game for the Spikes, including two doubles.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Thunder meet for the middle game of their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 6:35 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Jonah Jenkins (1-1) on the mound for State College against Trenton right-hander Kade Lancour (2-1).
Fans will be thrilled by Tales from the Ticket Office as Spikes Ticket Office and Business Operations Manager Robert DeLusa, who has seen some pretty far-out things in his time inside the windows, and he'll share his tales along with comrades and colleagues from across the baseball world. The mysterious William Call may even make an appearance at the ballpark.
It’s also Trade-Any-Ticket Night as fans can bring any ticket of their own, whether it’s from the circus, that trip to Sea World, the 1952 World Series, the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Curt Bowl, or any parking, speeding, or laundry ticket, for a free Bullpen Box ticket to Wednesday’s game.
In addition, it’s a Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars and WOWY Radio, featuring half-price wine and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Plus, the State College Spikes and FIREWORKS *in the summertime have gone hand-in-hand since the club first hit Happy Valley in 2006. Now, Spikes fans can once again enjoy these dazzling spectaculars from a unique vantage point as *FIREWORKS From the Field returns for each of the four remaining themed shows on the 2023 home schedule.
Starting with Thursday's fantastic Salute to '80s Movie Themes FIREWORKS presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau as part of $1 Beer Night at Thirsty Thursday presented by The BUS and Hospitality Appreciation Night, all fans are invited to come down onto the infield at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to see the skies light up with each of these special presentations from the Spikes and their official FIREWORKS provider, Starfire Corporation.
The final four themed FIREWORKS shows of the 2023 season will take place as follows:
- Thursday, August 3 – Salute to '80s Movie Themes FIREWORKS presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
- Saturday, August 19 – Sounds of 1998 FIREWORKS presented by College Township
- Saturday, August 26 – Salute to Wrestling Entrance Themes FIREWORKSpresented by McClure Company
- Thursday, August 31 – Salute to Summer Vibes FIREWORKS FINALE presented by Starfire Corporation
Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday, as well as every game remaining on the second half of the Spikes’ largest 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 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2023 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
More ticket packages, including Flex Books and an array of group and hospitality options for the 2023 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 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 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.
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.
