University Park, Pa. – The Williamsport Crosscutters used the long ball from the bats of James McCoy and Matthew Williams but it wouldn’t be enough as the Cutters fell to the State College Spikes by a final score of 9-7 on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

After a scoreless first, Williamsport opened the scoring with some two-out magic in the second. Sam DeCarlo, selected as the strikeout guy for the night, would work a seven pitch walk before stealing second and continuing onto third thanks to a throwing error charged to Spikes catcher Elie Kligman. DeCarlo would then score on a Nick Barone RBI double to take the early lead.

State College would not wait long to respond as Jeff Buck recorded an RBI double of his own in the bottom of the frame, scoring Justin Journette, to make it a 1-1 tie after two innings of play.

Following a scoreless third for the Cutters, the Spikes would strike for four runs and chase Williamsport starter Ryker Walton from the game to take a 5-1 lead after three innings.

State College would extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two RBI double from Elie Kligman, his first of the season, to make it 7-1 in favor of the Spikes.

The Crosscutters offense started to dig their way out of the hole in the sixth, starting things off with a walk by AJ Solomon. James McCoy would then drive a pitch 401 feet over the left-center field wall, coming off the bat at 104mph, for his seventh home run of the season.

Matthew Williams would then be hit by a pitch, move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Santino Panaro, and score on a Sam DeCarlo single. DeCarlo would steal second and score thanks to a throwing error by State College shortstop Ryan Rivera to cut the Spikes lead to two runs at 7-5 in the middle of the sixth.

The Spikes were able to get a run back in the bottom of the frame on yet another RBI double, this time from CJ Richmond, to make it an 8-5 ballgame in favor of State College after six innings.

The top of the seventh saw some more two out magic from the Cutters offense to close the lead down to just one run. In the exact reverse positions of the sixth, James McCoy was hit by a pitch and Matthew Williams came through with the home run, a 415-foot blast at 107mph off the batter’s eye in center to make it 8-7, still in favor of the Spikes, at stretch time.

State College would get an insurance run back in the bottom of the eighth inning from an RBI single by Elie Kligman, his third RBI of the game, to bring the score to the final of 9-7 in favor of the Spikes.

Williamsport would try a two out rally once again in the ninth as Matthew Williams would double to center, but he was left stranded as the game came to an end.

Ryker Walton was charged with the loss tonight, falling to 3-3 after just 2.2 innings allowing five runs on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Brandon Scott went 3.2 innings in his Crosscutters debut as the first out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Preston Drebes pitched a no-hit inning with two walks and two strikeouts. Brody Roe went the final 0.2 innings allowing just a single hit and striking out one.

Williamsport and State College will wrap up this short two-game series on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Cutters Carvings – Williamsport recorded a multi-home run game for the sixth time in 2026 tonight… Williamsport has lost back-to-back games against the Spikes in the season series… Williamsport sees their four-game win streak snapped tonight…