UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Caleb Marquez drove the State College Spikes to a 7-4 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a five-RBI performance that included his first home run in Happy Valley.
Marquez, on loan to the Major League Baseball Draft League from the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, stepped up to the plate in the fourth inning and smashed a 412-foot, two-run homer off Williamsport (5-9 2nd Half) starter Shaun Gamelin to extend the Spikes lead to 3-0.
The former Brewers farmhand then knocked in another run with a single in the sixth before his two-out, two-run single to left field in the seventh broke the game open and increased the Spikes’ (8-7) lead to 7-4.
Jesse Fonteboa also had a big game for the Spikes, going 3-for-4 with a double and scoring two runs.
Sebastian Rodriguez, making his first start for the Spikes after a pair of relief appearances on the road last week, sparkled in 4 2/3 innings of work. The Cayey, Puerto Rico native, who starred at Point Park (Pa.) University this spring, yielded just one hit, a first-inning double by Adam Becker, and one walk while recording seven strikeouts.
Reliever Patrick Kudelka (1-1) picked up the win despite allowing two runs on three hits in his lone inning of work. Kudelka struck out one batter in the effort.
Ty Pohlmann earned his third hold of the year with a one-hit eighth before Ty Buckner (5) shut the door on the Crosscutters with a one-hit ninth that included two strikeouts for his third save of the second half.
David Burgin (1-1) took the loss after facing three batters in the seventh, all of whom scored.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Crosscutters have a quick turnaround as they finish the first half of their four-game series with a 12:05 p.m. matinee at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Jonah Jenkins (1-1), who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the win in his last start against Trenton, gets the ball for State College. Williamsport will turn to right-hander John Mikolaicyk (0-2) for the start.
It's Super Splash Day, where the ballpark goes wet and wild as the Geisinger Kids Zone turns into the Splash Zone, and fans get to enjoy lunchtime at the ballpark with half-price wine and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy for fans of age during the Wine Wednesday happy hour presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars and WOWY Radio.
Plus, after the game, the field opens up for Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Tickets for Wednesday’s game, 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.
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 11:35 a.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.
