UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Kyle Huckstorf stole three more bases to start his State College Spikes tenure with a Major League Baseball Draft League-leading 12-for-12 performance on the basepaths in the Spikes’ 10-4 defeat at the hands of the West Virginia Black Bears on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Huckstorf, an outfielder from the University of Iowa, stole second and third in succession after a first-inning single, then followed by swiping second base after another single in the fifth for his second three-steal game of the 2023 MLB Draft League season. The Waterford, Wisconsin native went 3-for-4 at the plate and added a walk, scoring two runs on the night as well.
The Spikes (7-11) also got a strong relief performance from Chris Barraza, making his debut with the club out of the University of Arizona, as he allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings while striking out two batters.
State College took a 3-1 lead through five innings as Huckstorf paced an opportunistic offense, with Chase Call reaching base via a fielding error on a grounder in front of the mound to plate the Spikes’ first run in the third, followed by Cam Bufford’s sacrifice fly to left field. Huckstorf then scored in the fifth on Call’s RBI single to center field.
However, West Virginia (10-8) used a seven-run sixth inning to take the lead for good. Mauricio Millan drove in a run with an RBI single to right as part of a three-hit game, while Noah Fisher knocked in two runs with a triple.
Nick Gottilla (0-1) took the loss after going two-thirds of the sixth inning for the Spikes. Meade Johnson (1-0) threw the middle three innings for West Virginia to earn the win, while Dylan Eskew pitched the last three innings for the save.
Friday, the Spikes switch up opponents for the back half of their six-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with the opener of a series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Pitching matchups for the 6:35 p.m. game have not yet been determined.
Fans can enjoy a great deal on a 4 for $44 Friday presented by 93.7 3WZ, with four Diamond Club or Field Box seats, four hot dogs and four regular sodas available for just $44 – a value of up to $88! 4 for $44 packages are available in person at the Medlar Field Ticket Office or by phone at 814-272-1711.
After the game, it’s the first Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition of the weekend, presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Fans of age will also be able to partake in a half-price special on 16-ounce Michelob Ultra and Yuenglingdrafts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
More highlights of the weekend include a Salute to John Williams FIREWORKS Show to cap off Adventure Night presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau on Saturday, and a Salute to Pickleball with an Ultimate Pickleball Set Giveaway and ad Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by curavetti, including a Spikes Youth Baseball Glove Giveaway for the first 100 kids, on Sunday.
Tickets for the weekend series, as well as every game remaining on 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 in person from 9 a.m. until the end of the game Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. through 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 Friday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Steve Jones and Joe Putnamon 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.
