WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Taeg Gollert’s first home run of the season highlighted the Cutters five-run first inning, as Williamsport handed State College a 8-2 loss on Tuesday night at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
The Cutters offense wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating five runs in the bottom of the first inning against State College starter Dayne Pengelly.
A Spikes defensive lapse allowed the first run to cross as Ryan Kennell scored on a throwing error by shortstop, Carmelo Musacchia, to make it 1-0.
Two batters later, Gollert tagged an offering 377-feet over the wall in left, scoring Matthew Graveline to up the lead to 3-0.
Williamsport added two more runs as Ammon Dewberry and Dylan Schaefer each recorded RBI singles with two outs in the frame, giving the Cutters an early 5-0 lead.
That support was all the Cutters pitcher needed, as starter Ryan Ure was solid in his second start of the season. The 6-8 lefty worked four scoreless frames, striking out five along the way.
State College was able to avoid the shutout, scoring a pair of runs against Cutters reliever, Hayden Smith, in the 6th inning. Smith allowed the two runs over two innings out of the bullpen.
Gollert picked up his third RBI of the night, drawing a bases loaded walk in the 4th, giving the Cutters a 6-0 advantage. Williamsport would only score the one run in the frame.
Merit Jones was electric out of the bullpen, twirling a pair of shutout frames for the Crosscutters. The University of Utah product struck out six of the eight batters he faced, earning his first win of the season.
Jack Lausch opened the Williamsport half of the 8th inning with a double down the right field line and was chased home by a RBI double from Amman Dewberry to make it 7-2. It was Dewberry’s second RBI of the night and his first double of the season.
Ryan Kennell plated Dewberry with a RBI single to right field, upping the advantage to 8-2. For Kennell, it was his fourth RBI of the season.
Sam Swygert closed it down in the 9th inning, striking out a pair and working around a single, to get the Cutters to win.
This three-game interstate series continues Wednesday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. It will be the annual Electronics Extravaganza with giveaways each inning plus another Wing Wednesday.
Great seats are still available! Get yours now by visiting Crosscutters.com/Tickets, calling the Cutters Hotline at 570-326-3389 or by visiting the Cutters Box Office at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
Cutters Carvings: Williamsport batters collected 13 hits, setting a new season-high… Williamsport pitchers piled up 14 strikeouts, setting a new season-high… Merit Jones’ six strikeouts is tied for the most by a Cutters reliever in a single outing this season…
