WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Brock Reller’s three-run homer in the eighth inning was the crowning blow of the State College Spikes’ 16-hit barrage on Friday night, and Jared Kengott contributed a quality start on the mound to help the Spikes defeat the Williamsport Crosscutters, 8-4, at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field to draw within a game of the second-half berth in the MLB Draft League Championship Game with eight to play.
Reller, who was second nationally in home run in the NCAA Division II ranks with 28 this spring for Northeastern State, sent a 3-2 pitch from Williamsport (19-11 2nd half) reliever Logan Bowen 391 feet over the right-field wall to cap the Spikes’ (19-13 2nd half) scoring. The Grand Forks, S.D. native leads the MLB Draft League with a .512 on-base percentage in the second half, and his .598 slugging percentage is third-best in the second half of the league’s season.
Dawson Bailey produced a four-hit game for the Spikes, the team’s fourth of the season, and added a double and a run batted in, while Devin Buckner and Luis Aviles each notched two hits, including a double, and an RBI apiece. Brody Perkes went 3-for-4 and scored a run for State College as well.
Kengott (3-1) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and gave up just two runs on a total of three hits, four walks and a hit batsman over six innings of work. The Addison, Texas native also struck out three batters to pick up his second straight victory over the Crosscutters.
State College notched two runs in the first inning of Williamsport starter Matt Gilbertson (3-2), the first he had allowed all season. Trent Taylor scored the first tally after being hit by a pitch, stealing second, moving to third on a groundout and crossing the plate on a wild pitch. Buckner then walked with two outs and came home on Aviles’s double.
Gilbertson, who has taken both of his losses against the Spikes this season, allowed a total of five runs on 11 hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out six batters over six innings.
The Crosscutters rallied late to bring the tying run to the plate in the eighth, but Spikes closer Tristen Hudson doused the threat. Though Hudson did not enter the game in a save situation, the right-hander was not charged with a run over two innings and struck out three batters as he finished the game.
Saturday, the Spikes begin a season-ending eight-game homestand with the middle game of their three-game series against Crosscutters. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Jayson Summers (2-1), who enters the starting rotation after delivering 5 2/3 innings of one-run relief last Saturday, on the mound for State College. Williamsport will go with right-hander Nick Meyer (5-2), who is tied with the Spikes’ Louis Davenport III for the third-most strikeouts in the MLB Draft League’s second half with 41.
Two-time national champion wrestler Roman Bravo-Young will be featured on the Spikes’ next bobblehead giveaway along with a special appearance on Saturday, with McClure Company presenting the fun.
“RBY,” who captured his second straight national title in the 133-pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship in March and played a key role in bringing the ninth team title in the last 10 years back to Happy Valley, will also be on hand for an appearance at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park when the first 1,000 fans receive his bobblehead at Wrestling Night on Saturday, August 27. Bravo-Young will sign autographs, throw out the first pitch and be part of an on-field activity during the night.
Plus, after the game, the skies will light up with the season’s penultimate edition of FIREWORKS from the Field, presented by the McClure Company. Fans can come down onto the ballpark infield to witness this post-game spectacular.
In addition, Saturday is Mifflin & Juniata County Night, featuring a FREE Geisinger Kids Zone! presented by Friends of Jake Corman.
It’s also another **Super Saturday **presented by the **PA Lottery **and B94.5. Fans will have numerous chances to win big throughout the night, including through another edition of Baseball Bingo. After the game, it’s another **Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition **presented by Mount Nittany Health.
More highlights of the upcoming homestand include another bobblehead giveaway/special appearance combo as Michael Mauti, the heart and soul of the 2012 “Iron Lions,” will be on hand as part of the night’s activities on Saturday, September 3, with his bobblehead also going to the first 1,000 fans of all ages, presented by Penn State Health.
In addition, fans will be thrilled by the chance to see another spectacular display light up the Happy Valley skies from the ballpark infield as part of FIREWORKS from the Field, with Starfire Corporation presenting the show on Sunday, September 4 at the Fan Appreciation Night regular season finale presented by Lion Country Kia, featuring one LuCKy fan driving home a winner with LuCKy’s Kia Giveaway.
More highlights include the Spikes Hockey Jersey-off-the-Back Auction presented by PSECU benefiting Children’s Miracle Network on Hockey Night in Happy Valley, which will take place on Sunday, August 28, and the last Bark in the Park of the season, presented by the Centre Daily Times, on Friday, September 2.
A nearly full slate of Daily Fan Value Promotions will also be available, including two more Super Saturdays thanks to the PA Lottery and B94.5.
Tickets for each of the eight games remaining on the Spikes’ biggest 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. 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 an array of group and hospitality options for the 2022 season and for football Saturdays in the fall, 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 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.
