WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Six State College Spikes pitchers combined to hold the Williamsport Crosscutters to just two hits, and the Spikes notched their eighth consecutive victory as they defeated the Crosscutters, 5-0, to finish the first half of the 2022 MLB Draft League schedule on Saturday night at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Jared Kengott, Trae Robertson (1-0), Will Stevens, Kiernan Higgins, Austin Cheeley and Tristen Hudson formed the group that stifled the Crosscutters’ (20-18) bats. Kengott started and yielded no hits over his four innings on the hill, giving up only one walk and striking out two batters.
Robertson allowed Williamsport’s first hit, a single to Cole Evans in the fifth, but also recorded one strikeout to be credited with the win.
Daniel Harris IV’s broken bat single to center off Stevens in the sixth was the only other Crosscutters hit.
The Spikes (20-18) took the lead on Luke Seidel’s two-out single to center field in the second, then piled on with Trent Taylor’s two-run single to center two batters later. Taylor and DeAndre Shelton then pulled off a successful delayed double steal with Shelton taking home at the end of the play to make it 4-0.
Alex Toral then concluded the scoring in the fifth by driving in his 19th run of the season in his 19th game with State College. Toral notched the RBI by doubling in Ty Hill with two outs in the frame.
Taylor and Shelton, each of whom is slated to stay with the Spikes for the season’s second half, both recorded multi-hit games. Shelton added a triple for his first extra-base hit with the club.
With the victory, the Spikes pulled into a tie for second place in the league at the conclusion of the first half, matching the records of the Crosscutters and the Trenton Thunder. The Spikes’ eight-win surge is just two games off the longest winning streak in franchise history, a 10-game string that took place in August 2013 under then-Spikes manager and current St. Louis Cardinals skipper Oli Marmol.
Following the first half of the MLB Draft League season, the league will take a break for the MLB Draft itself, taking place in Los Angeles starting on Sunday, July 17 during MLB All-Star Break before the second half begins on Friday, July 22 with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Eastwood Field against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to begin a three-game road series.
The Spikes will return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a set of six home games in seven days starting on Monday, July 25 with a 6:35 p.m. matchup against the Williamsport Crosscutters. It will be Christmas in July at the ballpark with a special appearance by Santa Claus, and fans can help support a great cause on Jared Box Night. Plus, fans can get into the game with $1 outfield bleacher seats, then enjoy $1 hot dogs and $1 popcorn all game long on the last Buck Monday of the season.
Tickets for every game in the second half of the Spikes’ biggest 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. 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’ second-half opener 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 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.
