UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Alex Toral sent a high-flying home run to the right field bleachers for his first blast with the State College Spikes, and the West Virginia Black Bears were held to three hits, but timely plays gave the Black Bears a 5-1 decision on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Toral hit 15 homers in his senior season at Florida State and had already generated three doubles and six runs batted in over his first seven games with the Spikes (10-15). The first baseman sent a 2-0 pitch from Black Bears (12-13) reliever Tucker Shalley at a 40-degree launch angle into the midst of the bleachers where many of the dogs on hand for the second Bark in the Park of the season were seated.
West Virginia took the opening lead in the third when Sam Crail and Blaze Brothers each walked, moved to third and second respectively on a double steal, and both scored on a State College error.
The Black Bears added to their advantage with a run scored by Kyle Hess via a Spikes misplay in the fourth, followed by a passed ball to bring in Caden Trenkle later in the same frame.
Brothers completed the scoring in the seventh with a sacrifice fly to bring in Savier Pinales.
Spikes pitching again shone as five hurlers combined for 11 strikeouts while yielding just one earned run as a team. Brock Blatter (0-1) took the loss after allowing a pair of unearned runs on a hit and three walks over three innings. Blatter, who is committed to pitch collegiately at the University of Alabama, also struck out two batters.
Mason Ronan led the Spikes with four whiffs over two innings, while Connor Brandon, Christian Wall and Tyler Hoffman held the Black Bears hitless over the last four stanzas.
Sunday, the Spikes complete their three-game holiday weekend series against the Black Bears with a special 6:35 p.m. start time at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Right-hander Will Stevens (0-0) gets the start on the mound for State College, while West Virginia will go with right-hander Max Alba (0-0).
It will be a jam-packed evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as the Two Millionth Fan Celebration finishes with the drawing to determine the Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan.
Fans have been entering to become the Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan at the Lion Country Kia table on the concourse, with one finalist for the honors drawn at each of the six home games from June 23 to July 3. One additional finalist will be drawn from the Spikes’ array of season ticket holders, and all finalists will be invited onto the field after the Spikes’ home game on Sunday, where one of them will be named the Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan. Finalists need not be present to win.
The Spikes’ commemorative Two Millionth Fan will receive the Two Millionth Fan Ultimate Lifetime Prize Pack, which includes Spikes season tickets for life for the seat of their choice in the ballpark, a Shopping Spree at the Spikes’ official team store, Off the Rack Outfitters, a guaranteed 20-person Luxury Suite night in the Geisinger Champions Club at one Spikes home game per season for life, a guarantee to receive all remaining 2022 Spikes giveaways, and many more sensational prizes befitting the Two Millionth Fan.
Plus, fans can look forward to the return of David “The Bullet” Smith as he brings his record-setting Human Cannonball act back to Medlar Field as Lubrano Park, with a post-game blast-off as he flies higher and farther than ever before in Happy Valley. Sunday’s blast-off will be the first of the holiday weekend for “The Bullet,” as he also takes to the air as part of the Central PA 4th Fest activities at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Monday night.
In addition, a spectacular FIREWORKS show presented by the PA Lottery will light up the skies following the game, and it will be Military Appreciation Night as Lion Country Kia presents the festivities.
Sunday will also mark the third straight night of Kids Run the Bases Home Run Edition presented by Mount Nittany Health after the game, and it’s a Sunday Funday presented by Bigfoot Country Classics with a Pre-Game Catch on the Field from 5:30-6:00 p.m., half-price hard seltzers from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Kids Eat Free as the first 250 kids get a voucher good for a free hot dog, chips and soda.
Tickets for the culmination of the Two Millionth Fan Celebration this Independence Day Weekend, as well as every game on 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 on Sunday 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 at approximately 6:05 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.
