FREDERICK, Md. – Ryan Ward finished the game with two scoreless innings for the State College Spikes to continue his run of outstanding pitching, but the Frederick Keys’ early lead stood up as the Spikes took a 7-1 defeat on Saturday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Ward, a right-hander from UTSA, faced just one batter over the minimum in his two innings on the mound. The San Antonio, Texas native recorded two strikeouts to up his season total to a Major League Baseball Draft League-leading 17 whiffs, tying him with Zane Barnhart of Mahoning Valley and Carter Rees of West Virginia atop the leaderboard. Ward also reduced his earned run average to 1.64 over his six appearances totaling 11 innings.
State College (6-8) scored its lone run in the third when Cade Climie doubled, advanced to third on Addison Smith’s single, and scored on Ethan Mendoza’s groundout. Mendoza saw his six-game hit streak come to a close in the game.
Frederick (9-5) plated a run in the first on Brennan Orf’s single, then scored three runs in the second, one on John Volpe’s steal of home as the front end of a double steal with MLB Draft League stolen base leader Tervell Johnson. Logan Sanders then lifted a two-run homer to left-center field in the third, and Jevin Relaford singled in the last run of the game in the fourth.
Volpe and Ariel Antigua each produced three-hit games for Frederick.
Spikes starter Kelan Hoover (0-2) took the loss after being charged with seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. Keys reliever Ryan Harrahill (1-1) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of two-hit ball.
Sunday, the Spikes complete their six-game road trip as they look to salvage the finale of their three-game set against the Keys in a 1:00 p.m. matinee matchup at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Right-hander Connery Peters (1-0), whose 1.00 ERA is tied for seventh-best in the MLB Draft League, gets the ball for State College to oppose 6’7” Taiwanese right-hander Chei-Wei Lin (0-0) for Frederick.
Following an off day on Monday, the Spikes will start a six-game homestand on Tuesday, June 20 with a matchup on Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends against the West Virginia Black Bears at 6:35 p.m.
Fans can also look forward to 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, the Return of $1 Beer Nights on Thirsty Thursday, presented by The BUS, 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.
Highlights of the upcoming weekend home series from June 23-25 against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 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 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 on Saturday.
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 Sunday 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 Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium starting at approximately 12:45 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.
