WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Despite a 6-2 loss to the Williamsport Crosscutters on Saturday night at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, the State College Spikes remained just a half-game out of an MLB Draft League Championship Game berth with three games left in the regular season.
The Spikes (24-19 2nd Half) trail the Aberdeen IronBirds by that half-game margin as they head into the second half of their season-ending, six-game series against the Crosscutters (26-17 2nd Half) by virtue of the IronBirds’ loss to Mahoning Valley on Saturday. Aberdeen will finish their regular season slate with a three-game series at home against the Trenton Thunder starting on Sunday.
Justin Journette upped his RBI total to 43 on the season with a two-run single in the sixth as part of a three-hit night for the Spikes.
However, Williamsport pitching was strong on Saturday, with starter Evan Grimes (2-1) striking out seven batters over six innings for the win. Grimes allowed five hits and two walks in the quality start. Tyler Muscar (1) finished the game with three scoreless innings in which he yielded four hits and struck out three batters for the save.
Spikes starter Charlie Smith (3-1) took the loss after giving up three runs, two of them earned, over the game’s first two innings. Smith allowed five hits and a walk along with two hit batsmen, though former Penn Stater Joey DeMucci was the only player to drive in a run off of him with a double to left field in the second.
DeMucci recorded three hits for Williamsport, while James McCoy went 2-for-3 with a run-scoring triple in the sixth.
The Spikes and Crosscutters will now head back to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to enter the second half of the six-game set with a 6:35 p.m. matchup on Sunday. State College will send left-hander Caleb Ruter (1-2) to the mound to face Williamsport right-hander Ryker Walton (3-3).
The skies will light up with a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by Penn Highlands Healthcare after the game, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates to start the night will receive an Ike the Spike Bobblehead Giveaway presented by McClure Company. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with early entry for Season Ticket holders and groups.
Plus, if fans have bobbleheads they'd like to trade, or if you would like to exchange the bobblehead received at the gates, the Bobblehead Trading Post is open throughout the night to touch base with fellow bobblehead enthusiasts. The Spikes will partner up with Springnecks, a leading bobblehead group spreading the hobby across the Mid-Atlantic, and they will have a wide array of bobbleheads available for trade at the Bobblehead Trading Post.
The Spikes will start the 20th Anniversary Season Fan Appreciation early as well, with $2 hot dogs available around the ballpark for both of the remaining home games on Sunday and Tuesday.
Sunday also marks THON Night, as we start the drive towards THON 2027 with a variety of fun activities, on the last Sunday Funday of the season presented by BIG Froggy 101, featuring a Pre-Game Catch on the Field from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. The first 250 kids 12 and under also eat for free, with a voucher for a free hot dog, chips and soda available at the entrance gates.
Plus, fans of age can enjoy Half-Price Hard Seltzers, Sun Cruiser Iced Tea Vodka, and Dogfish Head Blood Orange & Mango Vodka Crush from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
It’s also an Ike’s Kids Club FREE Game, with free admission to the game for kids 12 and under who are members of Ike’s Kids Club. For more information on how to join Ike’s Kids Club, visit StateCollegeSpikes.com.
After the game, kids can come down to the field for Kids Run the Bases presented by Mount Nittany Health.
Tickets for both home games remaining on the 20th Anniversary Season schedule, each now featuring FIREWORKS, 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 Crosscutters on Saturday 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 Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field starting at approximately 6:20 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com.
