GRANVILLE, W. Va. – Justin Journette smashed his sixth home run of the year as part of a six-run first inning for the State College Spikes en route to a 6-3 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears on Wednesday night at Kendrick Family Ballpark to stop a four-game losing streak.
Journette’s 434-foot, three-run blast to left-center field boosted the State College (16-12 2nd Half) lead to 5-0. The homer was a mere 33 feet shy of his July 21 homer at Williamsport that served as the longest measured home run in MLB Draft League history.
11 batters came to the plate for the Spikes in the first inning, with Nyan Hayes reaching on an error to start the inning, then contributing the first of his three hits later in the same frame. Hayes has now collected three or more hits in a game four times in the second half of this season.
Camden Ross extended his on-base streak to 24 games, just two away from the Spikes franchise record set by Rowan Wick in 2014, with his RBI single in the first. Ross delivered two hits in the game for his 17th multi-hit game of the season.
Despite Elijah Cook’s 431-foot solo shot, his second homer of the season, in the third, State College was able to coast home for the win with Patrick Morris (5) pitching a perfect ninth for the save.
Spikes starter Caleb Ruter struck out seven batters over the first four innings before giving way to Josh Gentile (1-0), who earned credit for the win with 2 2/3 innings of work in which he was charged with one run while working around three hits and a walk. Charlie Smith then tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings before handing the baton to Morris to finish.
Black Bears (14-16 2nd Half) starter Aydan Decker-Petty (1-1) took the loss after allowing all six runs, none of them earned, in a total of two innings of work.
Thursday, the Spikes take on the Black Bears in the rubber match of their three-game series at Kendrick Family Ballpark. State College is scheduled to send right-hander Trey Cehajic (2-1) to the mound to face West Virginia right-hander Drew Townson (2-1) in another 6:00 p.m. matchup.
After the series in West Virginia concludes, the Spikes’ road trip continues with a three-game series against the Trenton Thunder this weekend before they return home on Tuesday, August 18 for a five-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
All five games will start at 6:35 p.m. and fans can enjoy a quintet of Daily Value Promotions, starting with a pair of matchups against the Williamsport Crosscutters on a Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends and a Glizzy & Wine Wednesday presented by Seven Mountains Wine Cellars.
The Spikes will then face the Thunder for a three-game series from August 20-22, including a Thirsty Thursday presented by The BUS and a 4-Pack Friday presented by 93.7 3WZ before finishing with FIREWORKS along with a 20th Anniversary Season Poster Giveaway on Saturday, August 22.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand, along with all eight remaining home games on the 20th Anniversary Season schedule, 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 Black Bears on Thursday 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 Kendrick Family Ballpark starting at approximately 5:45 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com.
