UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes used a six-run fifth inning scoring burst to take the lead, then took the win as rain in the State College area washed out play after six innings with the Spikes topping the Williamsport Crosscutters, 9-2, on Super Splash Day at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Thursday afternoon.
Also, though Thursday’s game was an official game with no rain checks, in light of the many children's groups at Super Splash Day, a ticket for Thursday's game is good for a ticket of equal or lesser value to another 2022 Spikes home game, based on availability. This will give kids and everyone in attendance on Thursday the chance to see a full nine-inning Spikes home game and enhance their ballpark experience.
Exchanges can be made at the Spikes Ticket Office at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park during normal business hours. The Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on Monday through Friday game days, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday game days, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on non-game days.
Fans can also call the Ticket Office at 814-272-1711 for more information on ticket redemptions.
In game action, the Spikes’ (8-5 2nd half) surged as they brought 11 batters to the plate in the fifth, collecting five hits in the inning. Trent Taylor, who doubled as the leadoff hitter in the first inning and scored the first State College run, broke a 2-2 tie with a triple off the Lion Country Kia Corner in right field, then scored on Nick Gile’s single to left-center field.
Brody Perkes then knocked in another run with a single to left-center, and a wild third strike to Rob Morosetti would bring in a run two batters later before Colin Adams’s two-run single to left capped the frame.
Brock Reller, who stole his first two bases of the 2022 season, added an RBI double in the sixth before play was halted.
Josh Madole brought in the first run of the game with a groundout that scored Taylor in the first. John Mead added an RBI single in the fourth to stake the Spikes to a 2-0 lead.
Williamsport (7-4 2nd half) plated a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on Taylor Jackson’s RBI groundout and Mike Anthony’s game-tying infield single to the left side.
Jared Kengott (2-1) went five innings on the mound to earn the win for State College. Kengott, the right-hander out of Emporia (Kan.) State, yielded two unearned runs on four hits, four walks and two hit batsmen. Mike Oh pitched a perfect sixth inning to finish the game for the Spikes.
Crosscutters starter Jarrett Whorff (2-1) was charged with seven runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman over 4 2/3 innings in the loss. Whorff recorded five strikeouts in the effort.
Friday, the Spikes will begin a three-game road series in Niles, Ohio with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at Eastwood Field. Right-hander J.D. Daniels (0-1) gets the ball for State College against an as yet undetermined Mahoning Valley starter.
Following the jaunt to Ohio, the Spikes will return home for a three-game set against the West Virginia Black Bears from Tuesday, August 9 to Thursday, August 11. Highlights of the trio of 6:35 p.m. games include Bark in the Park III presented by the Centre Daily Times on Tuesday with a Doggie Giveaway presented by Happy Valley Insurance, Ladies Night with a special pre-game Sip & Paint Ticket Package available on Wednesday, and Bellefonte Community Night 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 of the action of the Spikes’ game on Friday 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.
