UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Rob Morosetti drove in four runs and Trent Taylor bumped his hitting streak to an MLB Draft League-best 18 games with a double and a triple to help the State College Spikes build a lead, but the Spikes had to overcome a furious Williamsport Crosscutters comeback attempt to earn a 9-8 victory for their seventh consecutive win.
Leading 9-4 going into the ninth inning, the Spikes (17-9 2nd half) saw the first three Crosscutters (14-10 2nd half) batters reach base to start the inning before Daniel Harris IV brought in a run with a single. After Tristen Hudson (6) entered the game and forced Zach Miller to ground into an RBI fielder’s choice, Nicholas Hussey and Jesse Hall produced back-to-back run-scoring singles to draw Williamsport within one.
However, after a wild pitch, Hudson flawlessly fielded a Nemo Wright squeeze bunt attempt and flipped to catcher Luis Aviles for a tag of Hussey at the plate before a called strike three on Connor Denning ended the game.
With the win, the Spikes created some separation in the race for the MLB Draft League’s second-half Championship Game berth. State College trails only first-half champion West Virginia in the second-half standings, which would put them in the title tilt, and is now two games ahead of third-place Williamsport with 14 games remaining on the regular season slate.
Morosetti notched sacrifice flies to left field in the second and fifth innings, with a two-out, two-run single to left field in the fourth sandwiched in between. The Pittsburgh native is now hitting .308 (4-for-13) with runners in scoring position and two outs this season.
Taylor tripled off the left-field wall in the third before scoring on Josh Madole’s single to left, then hustled his way to a double in the sixth before coming home on Devin Buckner’s double one batter later. The UCF product is hitting .419 (31-for-74) with seven doubles and three triples during his 18-game hit string, which began on July 28.
The Spikes broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth with a four-run frame, featuring an RBI double from Luis Aviles and a two-run triple from John Mead in addition to Morosetti’s second sacrifice fly.
State College starter J.D. Daniels (3-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on just two hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings. The right-hander has now yielded only three hits to the Crosscutters over his last 11 innings on the mound against them.
Hudson picked up the save after giving up a total of two hits and striking out one batter.
Crosscutters starter Spencer Taack (1-3) was charged with the loss after being tagged for seven runs on six hits, four walks, one of them intentional, and a hit batsman over four innings. Taack also recorded one strikeout.
Saturday, the Spikes face the Crosscutters in the middle game of their three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 6:35 p.m. start time. Right-hander Isaiah Magwood (1-0) will get his first start of the season for State College, while right-hander Matt Gilbertson (2-1) is scheduled to go to the mound for Williamsport.
Fans can enjoy the return of FIREWORKS from the Field as College Township presents the spectacular post-game show after the 6:35 p.m. game on Saturday. It’s also Space Night on the same date, with a Pre-Game Rocket Launch thanks to SED Penn State.
Plus, it’s College Township Community Night as the Spikes celebrate their home township with a FREE Geisinger Kids Zone! presented by Friends of Jake Corman.
It’s also another Super Saturday presented by the PA Lotteryand 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.
The homestand concludes on the 21st with Witches & Wizards Night on a Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends as part of a 4:05 p.m. game, along with one last Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition for the weekend presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Tickets for the rest of the weekend, 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 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.
