UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes put together 15 hits, led by Trent Taylor’s three singles to extend his hitting streak to nine games, but Bellefonte native Logan Mathieu went 4-for-6 with his fifth home run of the season and finished just a triple shy of the cycle to power the West Virginia Black Bears to a 13-10 victory on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Mathieu, who grew up less than ten miles from Medlar Field and won the 2016 PIAA Class AAA state baseball championship at the same ballpark with his Bellefonte teammates, smashed the first pitch he saw from State College (9-8 2nd half) reliever Will Lancaster (0-1) in the sixth inning to the bleachers in right field for a solo shot to tie the game at 8-8.
The Liberty product, who leads all MLB Draft League Players in second-half home runs and whose 22 runs batted in also top the loop, then followed with a double in the eighth inning and an RBI single in the ninth after already driving in a run with his single in the first for West Virginia (11-6 2nd half).
Taylor, who saw his four-game streak of games with an extra-base hit end, still led the way for the Spikes’ offense with RBI singles in the second, fourth and eighth innings. The UCF alum also stole two bases and scored two runs.
Devin Buckner knocked in four runs for the Spikes, singling in Dawson Bailey in the first before a two-out, two-run single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly to center field in the eighth. Bailey also contributed three this, including a double. Nick Gile tripled in two runs for State College in the first to aid a three-run frame.
Tuesday’s game featured four lead changes as the teams combined for 29 hits on the evening. Mathieu’s home run ignited the last swing of the pendulum as Adan Fernandez followed with a single and Jack Elliott tripled him home before Anthony Stehlin’s single brought in Elliott.
Fernandez then tripled in a run of his own in the eighth and scored on Elliott’s single before Mathieu’s last RBI in the ninth. Elliott finished the game by reaching base five times on two hits, two walks and a time hit by pitch.
Lancaster took the loss in relief for the Spikes after yielding three runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings.
Chase Lorg (1-0) ended up with credit for the West Virginia victory after being charged with no runs on two hits and a walk over 1 2/3 innings. Lorg struck out two batters in the effort. Grayson Thurman (4) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, two via strikeout, to pick up the save.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Black Bears renew acquaintances with a 6:35 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Joe Battaglia (0-0) will make his second appearance and first start for the Spikes since coming over to State College from Williamsport last week. West Virginia is slated to go with right-hander Luke Eldred (3-0) on the mound.
It’s Ladies Night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, with a special Pregame Sip & Paint starting at 4:30 p.m. for those who purchased the Ladies Night Ticket Package. Plus, it’s a Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars with half-price glasses of wine from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for all patrons of age, as well as a Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy Happy Hour with half-price “Leinie’s” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. as well.
The series concludes on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. with Bellefonte Community Night, featuring a FREE Geisinger Kids Zone! presented by Friends of Jake Corman on a Thirsty Thursday.
Tickets for every game remaining in the second half of 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 Tuesday 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.
