Your Pork Roll Presented by NJM Insurance Group, took the first of three from the State College Spikes on Friday night at Trenton Thunder Ballpark by a final of 7-3. In his first start of the season, Jacob Denner was magnificent throwing seven innings of three hit, one run baseball while striking out 12 Spikes on the final Pork Roll Friday in 2024.
The Pork Roll led from start to finish and kicked off the scoring in their half of the second inning with some aggressive baserunning. With Pete Durocher on second and Santino Rosso on first, a double steal was on as both advanced 90-feet, the throw sailed into center field allowing Durocher to score from third to make it 1-0. Hometown kid Chris Reeder would bring Rosso around to score on a single into right field that pushed the lead to two.
The offense wasn’t finished there, when in the bottom of the sixth Chase Engelhard sent his third home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a three run Pork Roll advantage. After the Spikes got their first run across in the top of the seventh, Trenton had a response of their own in the bottom half on an Ian Battipaglia single into right field that scored Reeder to keep it at a three-run game at 4-1.
In the eighth inning the Pork Roll would tack on three more for some late insurance. Jack O’Reilly extended his league lead in RBIs to 33 with a single into center that scored Engelhard from second to make it 5-1 Pork Roll. Later Durocher would bring O’Reilly home with an RBI-single of his own, increasing the advantage to five runs. Hunter Dorraugh would shortly follow with an RBI-double to right field that scored Durocher for the seventh and final run.
In the top of the ninth the Spikes got a pair of runs back to make it a 7-3 game, but that would be as close as they got as Rutgers product Sonny Fauci struck out the final two batters to put a cap on game one. With the win, Trenton reclaims possession of first place in the standings by a half game over West Virginia.
Your Trenton Thunder go for the series victory against the State College Spikes on Saturday August 31st at 6:00. Come out to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for Garden State Night, Post Game Fireworks and MLB Network Koozie giveaway to the first 1,030 fans ages 13+! For tickets and additional information visit trenthonthunder.com/tickets
