UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes recorded 14 strikeouts as a pitching staff, the most for the team in a single game this season, but fell out of first place in the MLB Draft League first-half standings after taking an 11-4 defeat at the hands of the Frederick Keys on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Brennyn Cutts struck out six batters, starter Jacob Mayers punched out five, Ethan Storm notched two strikeouts and Jonah Conradt (0-1) whiffed one on the night.
However, the Spikes’ (14-12) loss and the West Virginia Black Bears’ (14-12) loss to the Trenton Thunder (15-14) meant that the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (15-12), who defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters (12-15) earlier in the day on Wednesday, took a half-game lead on the Spikes and Black Bears with three games left in the MLB Draft League’s first-half schedule.
State College took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on Caden Shapiro’s RBI single, a two-run error that brought in Merik Carter and Shapiro, and a Ryan Rivera sacrifice fly.
Frederick (12-17) stormed back with a run in the fifth on Shane Lewis’s sacrifice fly before Tervell Johnson’s run-scoring double and a two-run ground rule double from Lewis were the key hits in a four-run sixthgave them a lead they would hold the rest of the way.
Rivera’s 0-for-3 night at the plate saw his hitting streak end at 12 games, tied for the best mark in the MLB Draft League this season with Trenton’s Jakob Paturnak.
Keys reliever Paul Panduro (1-0) allowed just two walks over four scoreless innings to earn the win in his debut with the club. Panduro added three strikeouts.
Dawson Willis went 4-for-5 with a double while Anthony Diaz and Lance Trippel each produced three hits and a double to power a 16-hit Frederick attack that included six two-base knocks.
Thursday, the Spikes finish their series with the Keys in a 6:35 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Dayne Pengelly (0-2) is scheduled to make the start on the mound for State College, while Frederick is slated to send right-hander Cooper Robinson (0-2) to the hill.
It’s a Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark, presented by The BUS, as the most affordable drafts in Happy Valley are at the Spikes on Thursday night. Fans of age can enjoy 12-oz. drafts for just $2 apiece from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Spikes finish the first half with a two-game series against Williamsport on Friday and Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Both games begin at 6:35 p.m., with highlights including appearances from the Pirate Parrot, the Pittsburgh Pierogies and the Bucco Brigade at BuccoMania on Friday, and FIREWORKS provided by Starfire Corporation along with a Spikes Team Poster Giveaway presented by Fullington Bus Company for the first 500 fans and a Team Autograph Session during the first-half finale on Saturday.
Tickets for Thursday’s game, as well every remaining home game on the Spikes’ 2025 regular season schedule through August 28, are available by calling 814-272-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. until the end of the game on Friday, and 10 a.m. until the end of the game on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets, and view the 2025 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action of the Spikes’ game against the Keys on Thursday 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 6:05 p.m.
Audio streaming of every Spikes game, home and away, is available on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
