UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After being stifled by Williamsport Crosscutters starter Josh Willitts through the first six innings, the State College Spikes broke through to take the lead in the seventh, only to see Williamsport snare a 4-3 win on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
With the loss, the Spikes (18-16 2nd Half) fell to 2 ½ games back of the first-place Aberdeen IronBirds in the MLB Draft League’s second-half title race with 12 games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Willitts, the reigning MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Week, retired the first 14 batters he faced until Justin Journette’s double to right-center field broke up the perfect game in the fifth. The right-hander recorded seven strikeouts over six total innings on the hill.
The Spikes would then get to Willits in the seventh with a leadoff single by Ryan Rivera followed by a CJ Richmond double off the right-center field wall to put them on the board.
Crosscutters (20-15 2nd Half) reliever Tyler Muscar then hit Camden Ross with a pitch to extend his Spikes-record on-base streak to 29 games, just six shy of Vantrel Reed’s MLB Draft League record set with Williamsport in 2025. Following a Jacoby Long lineout to left field and a Journette strikeout, Jett Buck drew a walk and Blake Bradford was hit by a pitch to tie the game a 2-2.
Muscar was replaced by Matthew Mariano (3-0), who walked Ethan Swidler to give the Spikes the lead.
However, Jake Zitella tripled home two runs with two outs in the eighth off JJ Reyes (0-2) to give Williamsport the lead for good.
Williamsport took the lead in the second on a Nick Barone sacrifice fly to center field before James McCoy smashed his eighth homer of the season, a 405-foot solo shot to right-center field, in the third.
Mariano rebounded from allowing the go-ahead run to set down the next seven batters in order, six via strikeout, for the win.
Reyes pitched two innings, allowing one hit and one walk while hitting one batter and striking out one, in the loss.
Thursday, the Spikes shift opponents to the Trenton Thunder for the opener of a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Trey Cehajic (2-1) will get the ball for State College, while Trenton has not yet named a starter.
The Spikes start the second portion of the homestand with a Thirsty Thursday presented by The BUS, featuring $2 12-oz. drafts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Plus, the 20th Anniversary Season Ice Cream Special is back, offering $2 off ice cream and Dippin’ Dots in the commemorative 20th Anniversary Season ice cream helmets for Thursday night only.
The homestand continues with a 4-Pack Friday presented by 93.7 3WZ before finishing with FIREWORKS provided by Starfire Corporation along with a 20th Anniversary Season Poster Giveaway, featuring top players and figures from the Spikes’ first 20 seasons, presented by The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center and The Nittany Lion Inn for the first 500 fans on Saturday, August 22.
Tickets for the three games remaining on the homestand, along with all six remaining home games on the 20thAnniversary 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 Thunder on Thursday 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.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com.
