After a six game road trip that included games against two different foes, the State College Spikes ended up right where they started -- at .500.
Yesterday afternoon, with a series win against the Staten Island Yankees on the line, the Spikes couldn't find their offense, losing the rubber match 4-3.
The game was moving smoothly until the bottom of the fourth inning when Spikes pitcher Moises Robles got into trouble. After two lead-off singles, Robles was able to get the next two Yankees out before hitting a batter on the arm to load the bases. The next batter hit a bases-clearing double, racking up three RBI for his team.
This inning ended Robles' afternoon. He finished with three runs on five hits while striking out three. Brian Tracy came in to pitch the fifth but lost control in the sixth and left the inning after putting on two runners and only getting one out.
Despite getting the two needed outs, Harrison Bishop allowed one of those runners to score through a sacrifice fly, putting the Yankees up 4-0.
The Spikes (16-16) then slowly began to chip away from Staten Island's lead. In the top of the seventh, they took advantage of a new pitcher in for the Yankees (18-14), hitting four consecutive base hits with two outs. The team, however, was only able to score one run.
First baseman Justin Byler got a big hit in the top of the eighth. With no outs, Byler sent Craig Heyer deep for his first hit of the game, bringing deficit to two runs. This was his second home run of the season, both in this series.
Despite a Matt Cavagnaro single that kicked Heyer out of the game, the Spikes were again only able to get one run. They had to wait until the top of the ninth, with two outs to get their next run.
Right fielder Austin McClune got a single with one out and then moved to third with a stolen base and a groundout. A Keanon Simon blooper scored Perez to bring the team within one.
Byler then hit another blooper and moved Simon into scoring position at third base. All was for naught, however, as catcher Andrew Walker struck out swinging to end the game.
McClune had a strong day at the plate. He went 3-4, driving in a run and scoring one himself.
His stolen base was the seventh of the season for him, which puts him in second place behind Marcus Davis for the team high in stolen bases.
The series against Staten Island began on Friday night. With Nicholas Suero pitching, the Spikes lost the first game 6-3.
On Saturday night, State College put its trust in Duke Welker to help get it a win. Welker pitched a great game, going six innings, allowing one run and striking out five in a 7-1 win. This was the first win of his career as a Spike.
Simon had a great night on Saturday, going 4-5 while both scoring and driving in a run. Brian Friday, who was hit by a pitch on his hand in the first inning, was taken out of the game. He had X-rays but they were negative and he should be back in the lineup tomorrow.
The Spikes are again at .500 after taking two out of three against the Hudson Valley Renegades but only winning one game in the three game set versus the Yankees. The team has a day off today before heading into a six game home stand with an even record.
It will play the Aberdeen IronBirds and Auburn Doubledays, each in three-game sets.
