WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Marques Paige matched a 16-year-old State College Spikes record by homering in his third consecutive game as part of a four-hit night, and J.D. Daniels combined with Isaiah Magwood to hold the Williamsport Crosscutters to just one hit in an 11-0 rout on Friday night at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Paige’s homer, a two-run shot over the Spikes (11-9 2nd half) bullpen in left field in the fifth innings on the first pitch he saw from Crosscutters (12-6 2nd half) reliever Tyler Prospero, enabled him to match former major leaguer Mark Hamilton for the most consecutive games with a long ball.
Hamilton set his mark from June 27-29, 2006 as he started a pro career that included two years with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010-11 before becoming a doctor specializing in interventional radiology who served on the front lines of the response against COVID-19 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital in New York.
The home run served as the centerpiece of Paige’s night, which included a single and two doubles, along with a total of three runs batted in and two runs scored.
The stout offensive effort, which included 11 hits as a team for the Spikes, was matched by an outstanding pitching effort. Daniels (2-1) started and went six innings, yielding four walks and a fifth-inning single to left by Nemo Wright. The right-hander from Tuskegee (Ala.) recorded three strikeouts and reduced his earned run average to 1.96.
Magwood (1) took over in the seventh inning and earned the automatic three-inning save. The right-hander from Jacksonville State allowed four walks, but no runs, and struck out three batters along the way.
The Spikes broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the fourth, including two on a Josh Madole single and another on a Brody Perkes sacrifice fly, before two on Paige’s homer in the fifth and two more on a Luis Aviles shot off the left-field foul pole, his first of the MLB Draft League season.
Trent Taylor, who knocked in a run by reaching on an error in the fourth and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a fifth-inning single to left-center field. Taylor’s streak is the longest for any player in the MLB Draft League this season.
Williamsport starter Spencer Taack (1-2) took the loss after allowing five runs, four of them earned, on four hits, three walks and two hit batsmen over three-plus innings. Taack recorded three strikeouts in the effort.
The Spikes and Crosscutters meet for the second of three consecutive games at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. State College will send right-hander Beau Nichols (1-1), who holds a 1.53 earned run average over his first four appearances of the year, to the mound. Williamsport will go with left-hander Brandon Kaminer (1-1).
Following the set in Williamsport and a three-game series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field from Tuesday through Thursday, the Spikes return home for a three-game series against the Crosscutters at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park from Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21.
The series will feature another chance for fans to see FIREWORKS from the Field, as College Township presents the spectacular post-game show on Saturday, August 20. It’s also Space Night on the same date, with a Post-Game Rocket Launch.
More highlights include Heroes Night and Make-A-Wish Night on a 4 for $44 Friday presented by 95.3 3WZ on the 19th, another Super Saturday presented by the PA Lottery and B94.5 along with Baseball Bingo on the 20th, and Witches & Wizards Night on a Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends as part of a 4:05 p.m. game on the 21st. Plus, after all three games will be Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand, as well as all 11 remaining games on the Spikes’ biggest regular season home schedule in franchise history, including all three remaining FIREWORKS from the Field shows, 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 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 Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field at 6:20 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.
