FREDERICK, Md. – Brylan West smashed his first home run with the State College Spikes to help them take a 6-0 lead on Thursday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, and the Spikes cruised to a 7-4 win over the Frederick Keys.
West, an FIU product, took the first pitch he saw from Frederick (5-9) reliever Christian Rodriguez in the sixth 363 feet over the left field wall for a solo shot that increased the Spikes ‘ (8-7) lead to six runs.
The Spikes used two-out production to build their lead, with three runs in the third and two more in the fifth all coming after the second out of the frame.
State College starter Dayne Pengelly (1-0) made sure the lead more than held up with 5 1/3 strong innings on the mound. Pengelly, a New Mexico product, allowed two runs, one of them earned, on three hits and a walk while striking out six batters for the win.
South Carolina right-hander Drake Quinn (1) then finished the game with a perfect ninth inning in which he needed just nine pitches to earn the save.
Spikes center field Samuel Benjamin extended his MLB Draft League-best on-base streak to 15 games as he went 2-for-2 with a walk and his league-leading 15th run batted in of the season.
Frederick starter Adam Falinski (1-0) took the loss after allowing the Spikes’ first three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2 2/3 innings.
JoJo Jackson of Frederick also hit his first home run of the season with a two-run shot to left in the eighth.
Friday, the Spikes meet the Keys for the second game of their four-game series at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. State College is slated to send left-hander Jacob Kroeger (0-0) to the mound to meet Frederick right-hander Grant Richars (0-0).
Following the extended set against the Keys, and a three-game visit to the Trenton Thunder from Tuesday through Thursday, the Spikes will play 12 of their last 14 games of the first half of the MLB Draft League season at home. Highlights include BuccoMania Night on Saturday, June 29, along with FIREWORKS presented by Penn Highlands Healthcare and Penn Highlands Healthcare Cancer Survivors Night on the same evening, the Spikes’ traditional Independence Eve FIREWORKS presented by the PA Lottery on Wednesday, July 3 and much, much more.
For tickets to all of the home games during the stretch from June 28 to July 13, as well as every remaining home game on the Spikes’ 2024 schedule at the new-look Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, fans can call 814-272-1711 or by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets 24/7, and view the 2024 promotional schedule, by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action of the Spikes’ game 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 Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium at approximately 6:45 p.m.
The game can be viewed worldwide on the MLB Draft League streaming platform powered by Pixellot at MLB.watch.pixellot.tv and the Watch section of the MLB app by scrolling the Watch Now tab, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
