GRANVILLE, W. Va. – Camden Ross extended his on-base streak to 23 games, just three away from a State College Spikes franchise record, and Nyan Hayes collected a pair of hits and scored all three Spikes runs, but the West Virginia Black Bears took a 12-3 decision on Tuesday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
With Ross’s single in the sixth, he is now just behind Rowan Wick’s 26-game streak in 2014, and is tied with James McCoy of Williamsport for the third-longest such streak in the MLB Draft League this year.
Hayes singled in the fifth and stole his tenth base of the year, then reached on an error in the seventh and doubled in the ninth.
However, the big inning felled the Spikes (15-12 2nd Half) once again as the Black Bears (14-15 2nd Half) scored four runs in the second and seven in the fifth to take control of the game.
Zack Thompson hit his fifth homer of the season with a 440-foot solo shot left-center field to start the third as part of a three-hit, three-RBI night. Cole Kitchens drove in four runs with three hits of his own, and Cayden Gaskin also produced a three-hit game for West Virginia.
Black Bears starter Tyler Kaltreider (3-1), the MLB Draft League’s reigning Player of the Week, earned the win with a quality start of six innings in which he allowed one unearned run on six hits while notching eight strikeouts.
Spikes starter Vincent Spizzoucco (0-2) took the loss after being charged with five runs over two innings of work.
Wednesday, the Spikes continue their six-game road trip with the second game of a three-game set against the Black Bears at Kendrick Family Ballpark. The 6:00 p.m. matchup will see left-hander Caleb Ruter (1-2) on the mound for State College against West Virginia right-hander Aydan Decker-Petty (1-0).
After the series in West Virginia concludes on Thursday, the road trip continues with a three-game series against the Trenton Thunder this weekend before the Spikes return home on Tuesday, August 18 for a five-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
All five games will start at 6:35 p.m. and fans can enjoy a quintet of Daily Value Promotions, starting with a pair of matchups against the Williamsport Crosscutters on a Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends and a Glizzy & Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars.
The Spikes will then face the Thunder for a three-game series from August 20-22, including a Thirsty Thursday presented by The BUS and a 4-Pack Friday presented by 93.7 3WZ before finishing with FIREWORKS along with a 20th Anniversary Season Poster Giveaway on Saturday, August 22.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand, along with all eight remaining home games on the 20th Anniversary Season schedule, are available by calling 814-271-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with hours during home game days of 10 a.m. to the end of the game Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. to the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Spikes fans can also celebrate the final month of the 20th Anniversary Season with 20% off single-game tickets and select Luxury Suites at the ballpark with the 20/20 Special presented by The Clubhouse Family Fun Centre at the Nittany Valley Sports Centre.
That's not just 20% off Diamond Club, Field Box, Bullpen Box and Outfield Bleacher seats - even select Luxury Suites from Tuesday to Thursday are 20% off for every remaining home game in our 20th Anniversary Season.
Use promo code AUGUST20 by phone at 814-272-1711, at the Spikes Ticket Office, or click this link: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=19353&promocode=AUGUST20
Fans can use promo code AUGUST20 to buy and download single-game tickets, and view the 2026 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all the action of the Spikes’ game against the Black Bears on Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Joe Putnam on the call. The broadcast starts with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health on the air from Kendrick Family Ballpark starting at approximately 5:45 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com.
