BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY (Data does not include tiebreaker inning)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Ty Buckner recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the Major League Baseball Draft League Overtime tiebreaker, and the State College Spikes earned a victory over the West Virginia Black Bears after the teams played to a 4-4 tie in the regulation nine innings on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Entering with pinch-runner Tevin Tucker on first and no outs in the tiebreaker half-inning, Buckner shook off a Tucker steal of second to force Logan Kohler to line out softly to Darrell Michael Jéan at shortstop to start the frame. The right-hander then struck out Kirk Liebert before pinch-hitter R.J. Johnson flied out to left fielder Kyle Huckstorf to end the game and give the Spikes (7-9) the win in the MLB Draft League Overtime tiebreaker.
The Spikes’ win in the extra half-inning followed a comeback in regulation. Trailing 3-0 going into the second, the Spikes responded as Chase Call and Huckstorf drew back-to-back one-out walks, with Call scoring after an error by West Virginia (8-8) left fielder Aaron Jamison on Cade Climie’s single. Aden Howard then drove in Huckstorf with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-2.
In the fifth, Addison Smith reached base on an error and, after Jéan’s single to right, both runners advanced on a double steal before coming in to score on Matthew Bardowell’s line drive single to left-center field.
The Black Bears tied the game in the sixth on Cade Verdusco’s RBI double, while the Spikes threatened with runners on first and second and no outs in the ninth, but did not score before taking the win on defense in the tiebreaker.
No winner or losing pitcher is named in a game that reaches the MLB Draft League Overtime tiebreaker. Right-hander Matthew Linskey delivered three scoreless innings of relief to help the Spikes, improving his earned run average to 0.75 over 12 innings while carrying at 19-to-3 strike-out-to-walk ratio.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Black Bears continue their three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 6:35 p.m. matchup. Right-hander Gabe Starks (0-0) gets the ball for State College against West Virginia right-hander Ryan Schiefer (0-0).
It’s a Salute to Educators on a Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars and WOWY Radio, featuring half-price wine and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Plus, we’ll be joined by the Nittany Valley Curling Club for Curling Night at the ballpark.
Another highlight of the homestand is the Return of $1 Beer Night on Thirsty Thursday, presented by The BUS, which will quench the thirst for fans of age with $1 12-oz. select drafts and $2 12-oz. craft drafts available from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The upcoming weekend home series from June 23-25 against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will also include Store Wars: Sheetz vs. Wawa on a 4 for $44 Friday presented by 93.7 3WZ, a Salute to John Williams FIREWORKS Show to cap off Adventure Night presented by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau on Saturday, and a Salute to Pickleball with a Pre-Game Catch on the Field presented by curavetti including a Spikes Youth Baseball Glove Giveaway for the first 100 kids on Sunday.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand, as well as every game remaining on the Spikes’ largest 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. until the end of the game Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. through the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the full 2023 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
More ticket packages, including Flex Books and an array of group and hospitality options for the 2023 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 Wednesday 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 Medlar Field at Lubrano Park starting at approximately 6:10 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.
