UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Jacob Peaden held the Williamsport Crosscutters to one run over seven innings of quality mound work and Knox Preston’s go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning held up to give the State College Spikes a 2-1 win on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with Happy Valley basketball legend Joe Crispin in the house.
With the win, the Spikes (19-14 2nd Half) drew within one game of the Trenton Thunder for first place in the Major League Baseball Draft League’s second half standings with 10 games remaining in the regular season. State College will meet Trenton in a three-game series at Trenton Thunder Ballpark next weekend.
Crispin signed autographs, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and greeted fans as his bobblehead, presented by Penn State Health, went to the first 1,000 fans on Saturday. In addition, Spikes fans helped to support the fight against cancer on Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State Night presented by Diversified Asset Planners.
Peaden (4-1) struck out eight batters and scattered seven hits and a walk in his longest outing of the season. The Missouri right-hander has now met the MLB definition of a quality start - six innings or more with three earned runs or less – in four of his five starts with the Spikes.
After Peaden left the game, Cooper Hext helped the Spikes by throwing out Ali LaPread at the plate in the eighth inning to preserve the one-run lead and give Nick Palumbo a scoreless inning of relief. David Lee (4) then allowed a leadoff walk before retiring the next three batters in order in the ninth for the save.
Caleb Hill gave the Spikes the early lead with an RBI single up the middle to plate Grant Norris in the second. Cory Taylor tied the game for Williamsport (7-29 2nd Half) in the fifth with a two-out single to right to score Porter Brown. Preston, though, put the Spikes back in front to stay in the same frame as he singled behind the runners through the right side to bring Manny Jackson home.
Crosscutters reliever Brett Thomas (1-2) took the loss after yielding the go-ahead run in the fifth.
The Spikes and Crosscutters will now shift the scene of their three-game series back to Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field for the finale on Sunday. State College seeks the sweep with left-hander Jordan Morales (3-0) on the mound for the 6:35 p.m. night contest. Morales, a former Penn State Nittany Lion, has struck out 31 batters and walked just six over 31 innings for the Spikes after earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors at Purdue this spring.
Williamsport will go with right-hander Brent Francisco (1-2) on the hill.
Following Sunday’s game and an off day on Monday, the Spikes are back home from Tuesday, August 27 through Thursday, August 29 against the West Virginia Black Bears.
Highlights of the homestand include an appearance by the 2024-25 senior class at Hockey Night in Happy Valley on Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends with a Buy One, Get One Bullpen Box Ticket Night presented by the Centre Daily Times, a Glizzy & Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars and WOWY Radio, and a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by Starfire Corporation on THON Night with the fourth and final Bark in the Park of the season presented by the Centre Daily Times all joining $1 Beer Night at Thirsty Thursday presented by The BUS.
To purchase tickets to those three games, as well as the 2024 home finale at the new-look Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, September 3, fans can call 814-272-1711 or visit the Spikes Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with hours during home game days of 9 a.m. to the end of the game Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets 24/7, and view the 2024 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action of the Spikes’ game on Sunday 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 Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field at approximately 6:20 p.m.
The game can be viewed worldwide on the MLB Draft League streaming platform powered by Pixellot at MLB.watch.pixellot.tv and the Watch section of the MLB app by scrolling the Watch Now tab, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
