MLB DRAFT LEAGUE OVERTIME TIEBREAKER PLAY-BY-PLAY
TRENTON, N.J. – Javon Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk in the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker on Saturday night to plate the winning run and give the State College Spikes sole possession of first place as they defeated the Trenton Thunder following a 3-3 regulation tie at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
The Spikes (13-10), who have now won five straight games and eight of their last ten, came back from a 3-1 deficit in the seventh. Hernandez brought in a run in that inning with a fielder’s choice, then scored the tying run by taking home on a delayed double steal.
In the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker, the Thunder (14-12) chose defense as the home team and brought J.J. Almeda back out for a second inning on the mound. Almeda had escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam without allowing a run in the ninth to help send the game to the extra frame.
However, pinch-runner Cole Pladson went from first base, where he began the inning, to second on an obstruction call during an attempted steal, then took third on a Matt Evans groundout. After intentional walks to Caden Shapiro and Merik Carter loaded the bases again, Hernandez took a 3-2 pitch down and in for ball four to bring in Pladson with the winning run.
The victory put the Spikes a half-game ahead of the Thunder for first place with six games remaining in the league’s first-half schedule, which concludes next Saturday, July 12. The first-half champion not only punches a ticket to the MLB Draft League Championship Game, scheduled for Thursday, September 4, but also earns the right to host the title game.
Ryan Rivera reached base five times to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, the longest current streak in the MLB Draft League and his on-base streak to 15 games. Rivera, who was hitting .200 on June 24, went 2-for-2 with two doubles and three walks to raise his batting average to .348, good for the second-best mark in the MLB Draft League behind the .362 of Tyler Cerny from West Virginia.
No winning or losing pitcher is named in a game that reaches the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker.
The Spikes now look to maintain their lead over the Thunder as they complete a two-game mini-series at Trenton Thunder Ballpark with a 1:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Right-hander Bobby Olsen (1-0) is set to start on the mound for State College.
Following their series in Trenton, and an off day on the MLB Draft League schedule on Monday, the Spikes round out the first-half schedule with a five-game homestand from Tuesday, July 8 through Saturday’s July 12. Three games against the Frederick Keys and two against the Williamsport Crosscutters compose the slate, with all games starting at 6:35 p.m.
Highlights include Dugout’s 2nd Birthday Paw-ty at Bark in the Park II on Tuesday, July 8, appearances from the Pirate Parrot, the Pittsburgh Pierogies and the Bucco Brigade at BuccoMania on Friday, July 11, and FIREWORKS on Cancer Survivors Night presented by Penn Highlands Healthcare during the first-half finale on Saturday, July 12.
Tickets for every remaining home game on the Spikes’ 2025 schedule are available by calling 814-272-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. until the end of the game on Friday, and 10 a.m. until the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the 2025 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action of the Spikes’ game against the Thunder on Sunday 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 Trenton Thunder Ballpark starting at approximately 12:50 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
