WILLLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Reliever Ryan Faulks was unhittable over three innings, earning his first win of the season, as the Cutters best the Spikes 6-5 in the series finale on Thursday night at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Faulks entered with the Cutters trailing 4-3, retiring all nine State College batters he faced out of the Cutters bullpen, keeping Williamsport within striking distance. Faulks induced six ground ball outs and struck out one.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the 1st, Williamsport used a Jack Lausch sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1. Matthew Bardowell gave Williamsport their first lead with a two-out single, scoring Taeg Gollert to make it 2-1.
State College was able to retake the lead against Williamsport starter, Baliey Matela, with two runs in the top of the 3rd inning.
Armani Newton tied the game for Williamsport with a RBI groundout that chased home Carlos Castillo, knotting it up at 3-3 after three.
Matela surrendered his fourth and final run of the night in the top of the 4th as the Spikes took the lead for their final time.
After Faulks completed his third inning of relief, the Cutters bats backed the relievers efforts with a three-run seventh inning.
The Cutters benefitted from a Spikes balk by Aiden Lee, allowing Castillo to score from 3rd to tie the game with two outs.
Matthew Bardowell delivered the biggest hit of the night, ripping a two-run single into center, scoring Armani Newton and Jack Lausch to give the Cutters a 6-4 lead, completing the comeback effort.
State College would get a run back in the 8th inning against reliever Brad Rudis, making it a 6-5 game.
Jed Boyle entered in the top of the 9th inning, retiring all three batters he faced, earning his team-leading third save of the season, giving the Cutters the win and the series victory.
Williamsport hits the road to take on the Frederick Keys in a three-game weekend series starting Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Cutters Carvings: Carlos Castillo stole a season-high three bases as the Cutters stole a season-high seven bases in the victory… The Crosscutters have won five of their first seven series to open the 2025 season… After walking a franchise-high 17 batters a night ago, Cutters pitchers walked just one batter…
