University Park, PA – A night after a 14-3 victory over the State College Spikes at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, the Williamsport Crosscutters repeated the feat, picking up a 14-4 victory on Tuesday night over the Spikes at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Williamsport opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Porter Brown worked a one-out walk and Cory Taylor immediately scored Brown with an RBI double. Taylor would score two batters later as Mark Shallenberger would pick up an RBI single to make it 2-0 Cutters after a half-inning of play.
The Cutters offense wouldn't find the scoreboard again until the sixth in a 2-2 tie with the Spikes. This frame would see Williamsport score three runs off of just two hits while sending nine to the plate. McGwire Holbrook would leadoff with a single, followed by Mark Shallenberger reaching via a hit by pitch. Ali LaPread would be the next up, who's RBI single would score Holbrook and give Williamsport the lead. Mitch McCabe and Jacob Harper, the next two batters, would both be hit with Harper's HBP scoring Shallenberger from third. Mikey Florides would push across the final run of the inning with a Sac Fly to score LaPread, giving Williamsport the 5-2 lead after five and a half innings of play.
The eighth inning, with Williamsport still leading 5-2, would see the Cutters jump out to a massive lead thanks to patience at the plate. Mitch McCabe would lead things off reaching via an error. Jacob Harper, Mikey Florides, Levi Perrell, and Porter Brown, the next four batters in order, would all reach by walks. Perrell and Brown's walks would also give each an RBI as McCabe and Harper would score. After a Cory Taylor lineout, both McGwire Holbrook and Kyson Donahue, replacing Mark Shallenberger, would work RBI walks as well, scoring both Florides and Perrell. Ali LaPread grounded into what was a taylor-made RBI groundout, but thanks to a fielding error, would reach safely and score Brown. Mitch McCabe would strikeout for the second out before Jacob Harper would work his second walk of the inning, this time also notching an RBI as Holbrook scored. Mikey Florides would return to the plate once again, adding the only Cutters hit in the eighth with a 2 RBI single, scoring Donahue and LaPread to give Williamsport the 13-2 lead in the middle of the eighth.
Cory Taylor added the final run of the ballgame in the ninth with his second home run of the season, a 385 foot solo home run that was recorded at 100 mph off the bat, to push the Williamsport lead to 14-2. State College would attempt a late rally in the bottom of the ninth with two runs, but Williamsport would hold on to take a 14-4 victory.
Williamsport used tonight’s game to prep pitching for the MLB Draft League Championship Game with seven players seeing time on the mound.
Emmett Bice went just one inning in the start, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Shaun Gamelin pitched the second inning perfect while striking out one.
Nick McCollum was next out and was charged with a blown save, his first of the season, after allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout.
Brett Thomas threw the fourth and walked two but allowed none to score. He also would not give up a hit.
Chase Gockel earned the win tonight, his first of the season, after throwing a fifth inning with no runs on no hits, one walk and one strikeout.
Parker Kruglewicz was called on for the sixth inning and mirrored Gockel, also allowing no runs on no hits, one walk and one strikeout.
Outfielder Jacob Corson went the final three innings on the hill to earn his first save of the season. He would allow two runs, both earned, on three hits with three walks and no strikeouts.
Williamsport and State College head back to Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field to wrap up the series and the regular season on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday night's regular season finale will be Fan Appreciation Night, presented by WILQ, Kids Eat Free Wednesday presented by GIANT Food Stores, Hump Day Happy Hour, and Columbia-Montour Counties Community Night presented by PB&J Bar and Pepsi.
Thursday the 2024 season wraps up with the 2024 MLB Draft League Championship Game presented by UPMC, Antler's On The Water, Webb Weekly, and Backyard Broadcasting. We will also have a Rally Towel Giveaway for the first 1,200 fans presented by Weis Markets and WILQ, Post-Game Fireworks presented by UPMC, Antler's On The Water, Webb Weekly, and Backyard Broadcasting, and it will be the final Thirsty Thursday of the year.
The Williamsport Crosscutters will take on the champions of the MLB Draft League 2nd Half, which is down to the Trenton Thunder and the West Virginia Black Bears. That race comes down to the final day of the season with both teams tied entering the final day of the season. Trenton can clinch the championship with a win or a West Virginia loss, while West Virginia needs both a win and a Trenton loss to claim the 2nd Half Championship.
Tickets to both the 2024 Regular Season Finale and the 2024 MLB Draft League Championship Game are still available. Get yours now by visiting Crosscutters.com/Tickets, calling the Cutters Hotline at 570-326-3389 or by visiting the Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field Box Office.
Cutters Carvings - Despite 14 runs on 8 hits, Williamsport was still just 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position...Williamsport has scored 28 runs in just two games against State College in this series...Williamsport has now officially won their final three series of the regular season after a 2-1 series at Trenton, a 2-1 series vs. Mahoning Valley, and now being 2-0 against State College in the final series of the regular season...
