UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Thanks to a dominate seven inning start from Ryker Walton supported by the offense, the Williamsport Crosscutters saw their magic number to the MLB Draft League Second Half Championship drop to just one with a 5-1 victory over the State College Spikes on Sunday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Ryker Walton threw 110 pitches, 64 strikes, over seven innings to earn the win, improving to 4-3 on the season in what would likely be his final outing of the season for the Crosscutters. He allowed just one run on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts, dropping his season ERA to 5.48.
Brandon Scott allowed just one Spikes baserunner on a walk over the final two innings and struck out two to close out the game in a non-save situation.
Williamsport opened took the initial lead in the top of the second inning as Matthew Williams led things off with his tenth double of the season, scoring three batters later on an RBI fielder's choice by Jack Kail.
The fourth inning saw State College tie the game up at 1-1, which would be the only time tonight that the Spikes would find the scoreboard.
Williamsport would have to wait until the sixth inning to retake the lead. With one out, Matthew Williiams worked a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball by Spikes catcher Elie Kligman. Williams would then move to third on a Jake Zitella groundout and score on an RBI single from Trey Wells.
Wells would not stay on the basepaths long as Jack Kail drove the ball 395 feet into the right field bleachers for his second home run of the season to cap a three-run inning for Williamsport, giving the Cutters a 4-1 lead.
Williamsport would get their final run of the ballgame in the 7th as Chris Stanfield worked a lead-off walk, stole second for his 42nd swiped bag of the year and scored on a Nicholas Romano single to bring the game to it's final score of 5-1 in favor of the Crosscutters.
The six-game series now shifts back to Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field for Game #5 and the Cutters regular season home finale on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Cutters Carvings - With tonight's win, Williamsport's magic number to the MLB Draft League Second Half Championship is now at one... Williamsport will face Aberdeen in the MLB Draft League Championship Game on September 2nd with one Aberdeen win or one State College loss. Williamsport will face State College only if State College wins their final two games and Aberdeen loses their final two games... The 110 pitches by Ryker Walton tonight is the most thrown by a Crosscutters pitcher in a single outing in 2026...
