UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes took a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Williamsport Crosscutters on Sunday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, putting them on the brink of elimination from MLB Draft League Championship Game contention.
With the Spikes’ (24-20 2nd Half) loss and Aberdeen’s MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker win over Trenton, State College is now 1.5 games back of a title game berth with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Williamsport (27-17 2nd Half) started the scoring in the second after Matthew Williams doubled, moved to third base on Jake Zitella’s single, and scored on Jack Kail’s fielder’s choice. The Spikes responded in the fourth as, after back-to-back walks to Blake Bradford and Justin Journette, Jett Buck singled to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
However, the Crosscutters took the lead for good in the sixth. After Williams walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball and third base on a groundout, Trey Wells singled him in. Kail then smashed his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to the right field bleachers, to break the game open. Nicholas Romano finished the scoring with an RBI single in the seventh.
Caleb Ruter (1-3) saw a stellar start spoiled for the Spikes as he took the loss despite leaving in a tie game. Ruter was charged with two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six batters over 5 2/3 innings.
Ryker Walton (4-3) pitched seven innings of one-run ball for the win. Walton recorded eight strikeouts while yielding four hits and three walks.
With the win, the Crosscutters drew closer to becoming the first team in MLB Draft League history to win both halves of a season since the league moved to a hybrid split-season format in 2022.
The Spikes and Crosscutters will now shift locations to Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field for the penultimate game of the regular season. The 6:35 p.m. matchup will see right-hander Trey Cehajic (3-2) on the mound for State College against Williamsport right-hander Kenney Fabian (1-3).
Following the matchup in Williamsport, the Spikes will finish the 20th Anniversary Season home schedule on Tuesday night with their regular season finale at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at 6:35 p.m. against the Crosscutters
The skies will light up with a fantastic FIREWORKS show presented by Starfire Corporation, the Spikes’ official FIREWORKS provider, after the game for the last blast of the summer.
Plus, it’s Fan Appreciation Night with Half-Price Draft Beer for fans of age during normal alcohol sales hours, while supplies last, as well as $2 Hot Dogs around the ballpark while supplies last.
It’s also the final Walking Taco Tuesday of the season, presented by Bigfoot Country Legends, with half-price Walking Tacos all game long, with a bonus edition of Kids Run the Bases presented by Mount Nittany Health to round out the 20th Anniversary Season.
Tickets for Tuesday’s 20th Anniversary Season finale 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 finish celebrating 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, featuring 20% off Diamond Club, Field Box, Bullpen Box and Outfield Bleacher seats.
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 Monday 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.
