(Records for the Sudden Death Tiebreaker are not currently included in official game records on the box score and play-by-play, pending further evaluation by the MLB Draft League)
FREDERICK, Md. – Tyler Williams and Lyndon Weaver launched back-to-back solo homers to tie the game in the seventh, setting the table for Luke Seidel’s double to score Weaver with the winning run in the Major League Baseball Draft League Sudden Death Tiebreaker inning and give the State College Spikes a 4-3 win over the Frederick Keys on Thursday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Seidel took a 1-2 pitch from Frederick (11-12) reliever Cameron Tullar, who came on in the Sudden Death Tiebreaker, down the right field line to bring Weaver all the way around from first for the game-winner on the fourth pitch of the extra frame following a draw over the first nine innings.
The win was the Spikes’ (10-13) second in a row in the Sudden Death Tiebreaker, and their first away from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Under MLB Draft League Sudden Death Tiebreaker rules, the home team decides whether to be on offense or defense prior to the game, with the offense’s last out of the previous inning placed on first base and no outs. Either a run scored by the offense or three outs made by the defense determines the winner.
Williams and Weaver put State College in position to win with their consecutive blasts to start the seventh, each of which represented their first MLB Draft League homers. Williams started by sending Keys reliever Zach Fruit’s 2-2 pitch 379 feet over the left-center field wall to draw the Spikes within a run, followed by Weaver’s shot off the left field billboards above the wall on a 2-1 pitch to even the score at 3-3.
Williams finished the series 6-for-7 at the plate with three singles, a double and a home run.
State College took the opening lead when Williams collected his two-base hit, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch. Frederick tied the game in the bottom of the second when Dominic Freeburger singled, advanced to second on a walk, went to third on a groundout, and scored on Joe Zhu’s groundout.
The Keys moved ahead in the fourth as Freeburger scored on **Anthony Herron Jr.**’s double to right field and Zhu followed with a flared single to right to plate Logan Sanders.
No winning or losing pitcher is awarded in an MLB Draft League Sudden Death Tiebreaker, but the Spikes used five innings of scoreless relief to carry them through to the end. Mark Adamiak bounced back from a tough first outing with State College to strike out two batters in to shutout frames, followed by a perfect seventh by Austin Cheeley that featured a pair of strikeouts.
Kiernan Higgins, who led the MLB Draft League with a 0.36 ERA in 2021, tossed two scoreless innings of his own to finish the State College pitching effort. Higgins, making his second appearance with the Spikes in 2022, allowed one hit and one walk while notching one strikeout.
Fruit, the MLB Draft League’s strikeout leader with 29 whiffs this season, yielded two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out six hitters over five innings on the mound before Tullar took over in the Sudden Death Tiebreaker.
The Spikes’ clinched their third straight series victory on the road with the overtime win after taking sets from West Virginia and Trenton two weeks ago.
Friday, the Spikes return home to start a three-game Independence Day Weekend series against the West Virginia Black Bears. Right-hander Brendan Knoll (0-0), who holds a 2.45 ERA over four outings with the Spikes, gets his third start for State College in the 6:35 p.m. matchup. The Black Bears will counter with right-hander Cedric De Grandpre (0-0) on the hill.
The Spikes’ Two Millionth Fan Celebration will culminate at the trio of 6:35 p.m. home games against the Black Bears this Independence Day Weekend.
Fans have been entering to become the Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan at the Lion Country Kia table on the concourse, with one finalist for the honors drawn at each of the six home games from June 23 to July 3. One additional finalist will be drawn from the Spikes’ array of season ticket holders, and all finalists will be invited onto the field after the Spikes’ home game on Sunday, July 3, where one fan will be named the Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan.
The Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan will receive the Two Millionth Fan Ultimate Lifetime Prize Pack, which includes Spikes season tickets for life for the seat of their choice in the ballpark, a Shopping Spree at the Spikes’ official team store, Off the Rack Outfitters, a guaranteed 20-person Luxury Suite night in the Geisinger Champions Club at one Spikes home game per season for life, a guarantee to receive all remaining 2022 Spikes giveaways, and many more sensational prizes befitting the Two Millionth Fan.
More highlights of the homestand include Strangest Things Night at the ballpark on a 4 for $44 Friday presented by 95.3 3WZ on Friday, July 1, Bark in the Park II presented by the Centre Daily Times on Saturday, July 2, and a special post-game blast-off by the Human Cannonball, David Smith Jr. along with FIREWORKS presented by the PA Lottery on Military Appreciation Night presented by Lion Country Kia on Sunday, July 3 when the commemorative Two Millionth Fan will be revealed.
Tickets for every game in the Two Millionth Fan Celebration this Independence Day Weekend, as well as every game 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, 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 of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network presented byPenn 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 at approximately 6:10 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.
