NILES, Ohio – The State College Spikes battled through a 57-minute rain delay in the fifth inning, then captured their fifth consecutive victory as Luis Aviles notched the go-ahead run with his single up the middle in the seventh to send them to a 6-5 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Wednesday night at Eastwood Field.
Aviles, who got a second chance at the plate after a dropped foul popup gave him new life, brought in Trent Taylor to break the tie in the seventh. Taylor had led off the frame with a triple off the top of the wall in left-center field, and collected a total of three hits to extend his MLB Draft League-best hitting streak to 16 games.
Brock Reller also extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a pair of hits, a single to right to bring in Dawson Bailey in the third and a single between first and second to knock in Taylor in the fifth.
The Spikes (15-9 2nd half) kept sole possession of second place in the MLB Draft League’s second-half standings, which, with first-half champion West Virginia in first, means State College remains in control of a berth in the MLB Draft League Championship Game with 16 games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Mike Oh (2-0) picked up the win in relief for State College, taking over on the mound in the fifth after the rain delay. Oh yielded one run on one hit and three walks while recording five strikeouts over two innings of work.
Jayson Summers then delivered two scoreless innings in which he walked one batter and struck out three before Tristen Hudson (5) tossed a one-hit ninth inning in which he added a strikeout for the save.
The Spikes took the lead in the first when Bailey delivered a ground-rule double on the first pitch of the game, then came in on Taylor’s single two batters later. After Mahoning Valley tied the game on Alex Arauz’s single in the second, Reller’s first RBI single and Nick Gile’s two-run single in the third gave the Spikes a 4-1 lead.
The Scrappers (7-17 2nd half) bounced back with three runs of their own in the fourth before Taylor’s scored in the fifth to give the Spikes a 5-4 advantage headed into the rain delay.
Mahoning Valley reliever Anthony Boix (0-1) took the loss after yielding one run, the first he had allowed in five appearances for the Scrappers, on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Boix also struck out four batters.
Thursday, the Spikes complete their three-game set in Ohio as they seek a sweep of the Scrappers at Eastwood Field. State College will send right-hander Jared Kengott (2-1) to the mound to face Mahoning Valley right-hander Jarod Sprinkle (0-1).
Following the mid-week set, the Spikes return home for a three-game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park from Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21.
The series will feature another chance for fans to see FIREWORKS from the Field, as College Township presents the spectacular post-game show on Saturday, August 20. It’s also Space Night on the same date, with a Pre-Game Rocket Launch.
More highlights include Heroes Night and Make-A-Wish Night on a 4 for $44 Friday presented by 95.3 3WZ on the 19th, another Super Saturday presented by the PA Lottery and B94.5 along with Baseball Bingo on the 20th, and Witches & Wizards Night on a Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends as part of a 4:05 p.m. game on the 21st. Plus, Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health will be featured after all three games.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand, 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 Thursday 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 Eastwood Field at 6:50 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.
