UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In a contest that was highlighted by controversial calls, the Williamsport Crosscutters dropped the first game of their two-game, home and home series against the State College Spikes on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
State College took the early 2-0 lead in the first before Williamsport was able to respond in the top of the second inning. Boston Smith and Hayden Christiansen led off the frame with back-to-back singles and Armani Newton worked a walk before Matt Illgenfritz grounded into a double play that erased Newton but scored Smith to make it 2-1.
The Spikes added another run in the sixth before Williamsport responded in the seventh with a run of their own. Matt Ilgenfritz hit a double to the right field wall and Armani Newton, ignoring the stop sign from third base coach Sean Miller, slid in safely to make it 3-2 still in favor of the Spikes.
State College would tack on two more runs, both unearned, in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 5-2 victory over Williamsport.
Connor Knox took the loss tonight for Williamsport, falling to 1-1 on the season, after allowing two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts in four innings of work.
Merit Jones worked three innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.
Dakota Stone went a third of an inning with no hits but allowed two unearned runs, walked three, and struck out one.
Tyler Dietz closed out the final two-thirds of an inning retiring both batters he faced.
The Crosscutters now return to Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field to conclude this two-game, home and home series with the State College Spikes on Friday afternoon with a special 1:05 p.m. first pitch. It is our 4th of July Celebration featuring the Summer Patio Giveaway presented by Aquarius Pool & Patio and Beiter's along with Hersheypark Kids Day and Dollar Dog Day presented by Country Store Brand Meats.
Tickets for the 4th of July and all remaining 2025 Cutters home games are still available! Get yours today by visiting Crosscutters.com, calling the Cutters Hotline at 570-326-3389, or by visiting Crosscutters.com.
Cutters Carvings - Matt Ilgenfritz drove in both runs tonight but only recorded 1 RBI... Williamsport was 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position... Williamsport continues to lead the MLB Draft League standings by 0.5 games at the time of writing...
