University Park, Pa. - In a game that featured a pitching duel between the starting pitchers and three lead changes, the seesaw did not tilt in the favor of the Williamsport Crosscutters as they dropped the series opener in State College to the Spikes 6-5 on Tuesday night.
After the first nine batters went down in order, the Spikes would be the first time find the scoreboard in the bottom of the second on a Luke Nomura pop-up that fell in-between three Williamsport defenders for a base hit and allowed Stan DeMartinis to score from second to give the Spikes the 1-0 lead.
KJ White, in his return to Williamsport from the HBCU Swingman Classic, got things started for the Cutters offense in the top of the third with a line drive to right field and stole second. Two batters later, Carson Bayne would drive a 364 foot home run over the right-center field wall to give Williamsport a 2-1 lead in the middle of the third inning.
The scoreboard would then go silent once again as pitching took control of the game until the fifth inning.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Jake Zitella singled to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Carson Bayne groundout. Zitella would then score on a wild pitch that also allowed Chris Stanfield to walk, extending the Williamsport lead to 3-1.
State College would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth after a James McCoy fielding error extended the inning and an RBI groundout by Stan DeMartinis III that plated Trent Turner to trim the Cutters lead to 3-2 after five innings.
Williamsport responded again in the sixth as Nick Barone hit a one-out single to right field and moved first-to-third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Spikes catcher Elie Kligman. He would then score thanks to a James McCoy single through the left side to give the Cutters a two-run lead once again at 4-2.
State College would be the final team to plate runs, coming in the bottom of the seventh. After two singles and a walk, the bases were loaded for Hudson Shupe who grounded into an RBI fielders choice. Jackson Rains, making his debut for the Spikes, would cap the scoring with a three-run home run that also put the Spikes back in front for good at 6-4.
Kenney Fabian was strong in his debut as tonight’s starter as he allowed two runs, one earned, with two hits, three walks and two strikeouts through five innings of work on the mound.
Davin Pollard suffered the loss, his first of the year, going 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs, all earned, on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Brody Roe was charged with a blown save, his second of the season, allowing a home run in 2/3 of an inning.
Luc Lavigueur stopped the bleeding, pitching the final inning hitless while striking out two.
Williamsport and State College continue this three-game series Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in Happy Valley.
Cutters Carvings - Williamsport out-hit State College 8-6 in the loss... KJ White was the lone Cutters baserunner to attempt to steal bases tonight, going 1-for-2... Nicholas Romano grounded into a double play twice tonight...
