WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Marcus Brodil belted his second home run of the season, but it was not enough, as the Crosscutters dropped a 6-5 decision to the State College Spikes at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field on Thursday night.
Reilly Shafer took to the hill, fresh off of his first win of the season, but found himself trailing early. Chenar Brown ripped a lead off double to right-center to set up the Spikes first run. With TJ Salvaggio at 1st, Shafer’s pick off attempt evaded 1st Basemen DJ Smiley, allowing Brown to score to make it 1-0.
Shafer settled in, allowing three runs, two earned, over 5.1 innings of work. The Clarion product scattered five hits and allowed four walks in the loss.
Williamsport attempted to back Shafer at the plate, getting their first run of the night on a Rayth Petersen sacrifice fly in the 4th inning. Carlos Castillo scored, cutting the deficit at the time to 2-1.
State College plated a pair of runs off of Cutters reliever David White in the top of the 7th inning, extending their lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the 7th, Williamsport plated three runs, sending nine batters to the plate. Jackson Mayo ripped a RBI single through the right side, making it 5-2, on his 19th RBI of the season.
Vantrel scampered home on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit down to 5-3. Carlos Castillo capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Mayo, to make it 5-4. Williamsport plated three in the frame, but did leave the bases loaded.
The Spikes tacked on a run in the to of the 8th inning, going up 6-4.
Marcus Brodil’s 393-foot solo home run came with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, turning it into a one-run game.
After a Castillo walk, T.J. Racherbaumer struck out swinging to end the game.
The Crosscutters hit the road, starting a five-game road trip in Trenton on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
Cutters Carvings: Brodil’s home run was the first for the Cutters since August 5th at Mahoning Valley and their first at Journey Bank Ballpark since July 31st… Williamsport lost all three games of the series by one run… The Cutters have posted a 1-10-1 record over their last 12 games…
