BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY (MLB Draft League Overtime tiebreaker stats not included)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After a tense nine innings that ended in a 1-1 tie, Ty Buckner recorded three outs in the Major League Baseball Overtime tiebreaker for the second time this week to give the State College Spikes a victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in a series opener at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Friday night.
Buckner, who helped the Spikes (8-11) defeat the West Virginia Black Bears on Tuesday in the MLB Draft League Overtime, came on for a second inning of work in the tiebreaker on Friday after tossing a scoreless ninth. Kyle Huckstorf helped the right-hander out with a diving catch in center field for the first out, followed by Buckner’s strikeout of Mason Sykes and Jarrod Belbin’s groundout to first to seal the win.
The game was scoreless through the first six innings as pitching dominated. State College starter Kelan Hoover went five innings, the longest outing for any Spikes pitcher in 2023, and yielded just three hits while striking out five batters. Mahoning Valley (7-12) starter Rudy Gomez struck out seven batters over four innings on the mound.
The Scrappers broke through for the game’s first run in the seventh inning after Andreaus Lewis II led off the inning with a walk, stole second base with an advance to third on a throwing error on the play, and scored on Jared Sprague-Lott’s single to left field.
However, the Spikes fought back in the bottom half of the seventh as Huckstorf tripled to the Lion Country Kia Corner in right field and, after a walk to Addison Smith, scored on a wild pitch by Scrappers reliever Andrew Lucas.
The Spikes also held a 10-2 advantage in drawing walks for the game. State College is now 6-2 when walking more than their opponents this year, as compared to a 2-9 mark when the walk battle goes the other way.
No winning or losing pitchers are named in a game that reaches the MLB Draft League Overtime tiebreaker.
Saturday, the Spikes look to continue their momentum with a 6:35 p.m. matchup against the Scrappers. Right-hander Connery Peters (1-1) will get the start for State College, while Mahoning Valley will send left-hander Connor Markl (0-0) to the hill.
Fans will be thrilled by a fantastic post-game FIREWORKS show, with a Salute to John Williams soundtrack consisting of epic music from “Star Wars,” the Indiana Jones saga, and more legendary films.
Plus, it’s Adventure Night presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, serving as the culmination of an Adventure Hunt that has spanned Happy Valley in recent weeks. One lucky fan that completed the Adventure Hunt will be chosen to win the $1,000 Grand Prize Treasure Chest, which features prizes from the State College Spikes, The Tavern Restaurant, Downtown Bellefonte, Downtown State College, Tait Farm, Penn's Cave Farm-Nature-Wildlife Park, the Rowland Theatre and the Central PA 4th Fest.
Plus, the first 100 fans to complete the Adventure Hunt and attend Saturday’s game will all receive special Spikes/HVAB Fedoras, just in time to catch the latest installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” premiering on June 30.
It’s also a Super Saturday presented by the PA Lottery and Pop 93.3, featuring the spectacular FIREWORKS and the chance to win big at Baseball Bingo and more during the game.
After the game, it’s another Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health.
The homestand concludes with a 4:05 p.m. matchup on Sunday with a Salute to Pickleball featuring an Ultimate Pickleball Set Giveaway and a Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by curavetti, including a Spikes Youth Baseball Glove Giveaway for the first 100 kids.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday as well as every game remaining on the Spikes’ largest 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. until the end of the game Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. through the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2023 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
More ticket packages, including Flex Books and an array of group and hospitality options for the 2023 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 Putnamon 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.
