Williamsport, P.A. – Williamsport plated three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, fueling their come-from-behind win over State College.
Zachary Murray took the ball for his first start of the second half, but did not have his normal success. The Young Harris product allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Murray did strike out five batters in the no decision.
After the Spikes opened the scoring in the top of the first, Williamsport was able to respond with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first.
McGwire Holbrook got the Cutters on the board with an RBI single to center, scoring Levi Perrell to tie the game at 1-1, as Holbrook collected his 20th RBI of the season.
Mitch McCabe followed with a rocket double to left, chasing home Mark Shallenberger to give Williamsport a 2-1 lead. For McCabe, it was his 2nd double and 2nd RBI of the season.
Porter Brown capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Holbrook, to make it 3-1, giving Brown his fourth RBI of the season.
Thing cam apart for Murray and the Crosscutters in the top of the 5th inning, allowing five runs to score, as the Spikes reclaimed the lead at 6-3.
As they did in the first, Williamsport got a run back in the bottom of the 5th inning, as Jacob Corson ripped an RBI single into center, plating Perrell, cutting the deficit to 6-4. For Corson, it was his 14th RBI of the year.
Logan Berrier was the first out of the Williamsport bullpen in the top of the 6th inning, tossing a scoreless frame of relief. He did not allow a walk or a hit, striking out one.
Drew Clark entered in the top of the 7th and worked a perfect frame, striking out one. Clark started the top of the 8th inning, but was greeted by a lost-in-the-lights double by Cam Bufford and then hit Know Preston to put runners at 1st and 2nd.
Clark was able to strikeout T.J. Pound before being removed for Parker Kruglewicz.
Kruglewicz, who suffered the loss last night in West Virginia, struck out Will Jewel for the second out. The right-hander uncorked a wild pitch, moving both Spikes runners to 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Kruglewicz was able to bare down and strike out Josh Speigel to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Mitch McCabe led off with a single, followed by a walk to Poreter Brown, putting the tying run on base. After a Josh Lopez strikeout, Ethan Kipel drew a walk, thanks to a pitch clock violation, loading the bases with one out.
Will Binder struck out, bringing Levi Perrell to the plate with the sacks packed and two outs. The Cutters shortstop was struck in the helmet by a 2-2 offering, bring home McCabe to make it a 6-5 deficit.
Mark Shallenberger looked to tie the game, grounding a ball between second and first, stopped on a diving play by Spikes second basemen T.J. Pound. Pound got to his feet and threw on to first, but Shallenberger was able to leg out the infield single.
Porter Brown scored the tying run for 3rd base to tie the game, and pinch runner Mikey Florides booked around 3rd and scored the go-ahead run. The RBIs were the fifth and sixth for Shallenberger this season.
Kruglewicz worked a perfect ninth, striking out two more, including Parker Coddou, to end the game, giving Kruglewicz his first win of the season.
This three-game series shifts to State College tomorrow, first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Cutters Carvings – The Crosscutters snapped a season-long three-game losing streak with the win…Perrell’s RBI in the 8th inning was his first since the opening night of the second half…Williamsport is now 5-2 and winners of their last four against the Spikes…
