Final Score- Williamsport 7 State College 8
State College – The Crosscutters lost 8–7 to the Spikes with another later rally falling just short. The Cutters had previously rallied in games one and two in losses to Trenton.
The Cutters got on the board in the top of the first for an early 1–0 lead. Third baseman Maury Weaver led off the ballgame with a walk and later stole second base. He was brought home on a fielding error by the third baseman on a hit by shortstop Dante Leach.
The Cutters drew three straight walks in the second inning and centerfielder Logan Flood would score on a wild pitch for a 2–0 lead. The Spikes cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Jake Mastillo scored on a wild pitch from starting pitcher Austin Marozas.
The Spikes earned four straight walks to start the bottom of the third. Relief pitcher Braden Nett picked off a runner at first for the first out but after getting runners to first and third on a wild pitch, the Spikes tied the game on a well-executed double steal. After a fifth walk in the inning, Mastillo cleared the bases with a three-run double giving the Spikes a 5–2 lead.
The Spikes extended their lead to 8–2 in the bottom of the fourth inning. A walk and a single put runners on first and second base. Tommy Schroeder and EJ Doskow each hit an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Mastillo walked to bring in the eighth run.
Zac Czerniawski struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Spikes scored in three straight innings.
The Cutters cut the lead to four runs in the top of the sixth. Second baseman Blake Mozley leadoff the inning with a walk. First baseman Eddie Micheletti tripled to right field bringing Mozley home. Weaver then singled to make the game 8–4.
The Spikes put runners on second and third base but relief pitcher Geo Camfield worked a strikeout and catcher Beck Milner fielded a wild pitch and got home in time to tag the runner out to get out of the jam.
Camfield tossed a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the seventh. The Spikes threatened to score again in the eighth getting two runners on base, but righty Jacob Kush struck out two batters to end the inning.
The Cutters started their late rally with right fielder Travis Holt reaching on an error. Consecutive singles from designated hitter Jordan Schaffer and Flood loaded the bases with no outs. A pitch hit Mozley to bring home a run. Micheletti hit a sacrifice fly to right field which brought home, Schaffer. Weaver came up big again with a two-out single through the right side which brought home Flood and moved pinch-runner Matthew Etzel to third.
With runners on first and third, Dante Leach struck out ending the game. The three runs were not enough for the Cutters to stay unbeaten against the Spikes. Czerniawksi, Camfield and Kush combined for seven strikeouts to keep the Spikes scoreless in the last four innings.
The Cutters return home to Williamsport Sunday, June 12, to host the Spikes at 6:05 p.m. as they look to stay unbeaten at home.
Cutters Carvings: There was a total of 17 walks in the ballgame … The Cutters had won five straight games against the Spikes … Spikes’ Jake Mastillo drove in five RBI … The Cutters are 5–0 at home and 0–4 on the road … pitchers for both teams combined for 26 strikeouts.
