NILES, Ohio – Louis Davenport III gave the State College Spikes another superb outing on the mound, and the Spikes collected 16 hits as a time to go wire-to-wire with a 14-2 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field.
Davenport (2-0), who earlier in the day was named the MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Week for August 15-21 after his 12 strikeouts last Tuesday against Mahoning Valley (9-20 2nd half) matched a Spikes (18-11 2nd half) single-game record, notched nine more whiffs on Tuesday night. The right-hander yielded just one run on three hits, four walks and a hit batsman over a season-long six innings of work for his second straight win.
A native of Atlanta, Davenport has now tied Nick Meyer of Williamsport and Jonathan Pintaro of Frederick for the MLB Draft League’s second-half lead in strikeouts with 41. The righty has recorded his total over 28 2/3 innings, less than either of the hurlers with whom he is tied atop the list.
State College supported Davenport with an onslaught of offense from the jump, collecting at least one hit in every inning and plating at least one run in every inning save the second and ninth.
DeAndre Shelton tied a Spikes single-game record shared with several other players as he scored four runs as part of a 3-for-4 night at the plate. Shelton produced two doubles while also knocking in a run and stealing his 12th base of the season.
Dawson Bailey also helped lead the way with five runs batted in as part of a 3-for-6 night that included his league-leading 11th double of the second half. Marques Paige added three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs, while Trent Taylor contributed a double and a triple while also notching an RBI.
Mahoning Valley right-hander Isaac Olson (2-2) took the loss after giving up five runs, four of them earned, on six hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings. Olson struck out three batters in the effort.
With the win, the Spikes stayed within percentage points of the Williamsport Crosscutters in the race for the second-half berth in the MLB Draft League Championship Game. The Spikes and Crosscutters are matched in the games back column of the standings with 11 games left to play, as both compete to visit the West Virginia Black Bears for the title game on Tuesday, September 6.
Wednesday, the Spikes continue their series in Ohio with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Scrappers at Eastwood Field. Right-hander Joe Battaglia (0-0) gets the ball for State College against Mahoning Valley left-hander Eric Sapp (2-0).
After the series against the Scrappers, the Spikes will then visit the Crosscutters at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field this coming Friday, August 26 before starting an eight-game homestand to close the regular season at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Saturday, August 27.
Highlights of the upcoming homestand include two bobblehead giveaways, with both subjects also appearing at the ballpark on their respective bobblehead nights. Two-time NCAA wrestling champion Roman Bravo-Young will meet and greet fans, sign autographs and more on Saturday, August 27 when his bobblehead goes to the first 1,000 fans of all ages, presented by McClure Company.
Plus, Michael Mauti, the heart and soul of the 2012 “Iron Lions,” will be on hand as part of the night’s activities on Saturday, September 3, with his bobblehead also going to the first 1,000 fans of all ages, presented by Penn State Health.
In addition, fans will be thrilled by the chance to see spectacular displays light up the Happy Valley skies from the ballpark infield as part of FIREWORKS from the Field, with McClure Company presenting the show on Saturday, August 27 and Starfire Corporation presenting the show on Sunday, September 4 at the Fan Appreciation Night regular season finale presented by Lion Country Kia.
More highlights include the Spikes Hockey Jersey-off-the-Back Auction presented by PSECU benefiting Children’s Miracle Network on Hockey Night in Happy Valley, which will take place on Sunday, August 28, and the last Bark in the Park of the season, presented by the Centre Daily Times, on Friday, September 2.
The full slate of Daily Fan Value Promotions will also be available, including two more Super Saturdays thanks to the PA Lottery and B94.5.
Tickets for each of the eight games remaining on the Spikes’ biggest 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. 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 Joe Putnam on the call. The broadcast starts with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Eastwood Field starting 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.
