Despite being on the road, a little hometown love came alive when the State College Spikes battled the Mahoning Valley Scrappers last night

First baseman Justin Byler grew up in Warren, Ohio, which is just five minutes from the Scrappers stadium, Eastwood Field.

With his family and friends in the park, he proceeded to have one of his luckiest games this season.

Despite going 2-for-2 and getting on base in all four at bats, Byler's hometown luck was not enough for a win, as the Spikes suffered a 4-0 loss to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

In his first at bat of the game, the Spikes first baseman got the first hit for State College (19-20), knocking a single to center field.

Byler's team was unable to get him into scoring position, but he gave it another chance in the fourth when he launched a double to left. A strikeout and a double play, however, ended any chance of Byler scoring a run for the Spikes.

Despite having their ace on the mound, the Scrappers (19-20) were able to get to Spike pitcher Tony Watson.

In the bottom of the fourth, with a runner on first, Watson made a mistake to Mahoning Valley's designated hitter Nick Petrucci who took the ball out of the park.

This was only the third homerun allowed by the southpaw this season and he proceeded to have to work from behind, something he hasn't had to do very much this season.

Watson settled down after this and did not allow any more runs, but Spikes manager Turner Ward still decided to take him out before the bottom of the sixth.

Watson gave up six hits, the most all season, while striking out four and walking none in his first loss this season.

Byler made it on base again during his third at bat, nabbing a walk off Scrapper starter Heath Taylor. Right fielder Miles Durham hit a double that would have scored Byler but it bounced over the wall, forcing him to stop at third.

This turned out to be extremely fortunate for the Scrappers as the Spikes' next batter grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mahoning Valley added to its score when its third baseman, Jansy Infante hit a double to right and gathered up two RBIs to his total.

The play turned out to be just enough run support to secure a victory as the Scrappers and the Spikes moved into a tie for second place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Byler, who had all the hometown luck going for him, got on base again in the eighth when a pitch hit him. Like the previous times, however, no one behind him was able to get him either into scoring position or over the plate.

Brian Friday, who hasn't started since getting hit in the hand on July 21st against the Staten Island Yankees, was back in the lead-off position for the Spikes last night. The shortstop has only ever played on the road and was 1-4 with a strikeout.

Slumping second baseman Matt Cavagnaro, who had five hits in the last ten games, was able to get an infield single last night in the seventh inning.

After batting .314 in June and going on an impressive hitting streak, Cavagnaro is currently hitting an embarrassingly low batting average of .174 in July and has 15 strikeouts.

Austin McClune, who went 3-for-3 with three assists on Sunday night against the Auburn Doubledays, had no such luck against the Scrappers. He went 0-4, with four groundouts.

The Spikes have two more games against Mahoning Valley tonight and tomorrow. Then, the Spikes will travel to Auburn, New York for yet another set of games with the Auburn Doubledays.