The State College Spikes, who have been shaky as of late, have at least one sure thing - their starting pitching and last night, their bullpen.
For another night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the Spikes starter shut down the opposition and allowed the team score some runs to secure a 4-1 win.
With Moises Robles as the catalyst, the team came out firing against the Lowell Spinners after a 46-minute rain delay. After scoring in its half of the first inning, State College never looked back and won the rubber-match game over Lowell.
"We try to continue to stress how important the little things are," Spikes manager Turner Ward said. "They are playing some good ball and they are playing some good ball at the right time."
First baseman Justin Byler took no time in scoring the team's first run of the night in the first inning. After drawing a four-pitch walk, he scored from first on catcher Andrew Walker's double. Walker, however, was thrown out when he tried to stretch the double into a triple.
From the first to the fifth inning, the Spikes (24-25) scored runs in every other inning. They got one run in the third on a sacrifice fly from left fielder Keanon Simon. They started to tee off on the Spinners (26-23) starter in the fifth.
Left fielder Marcus Davis did a lot of the work himself in fifth inning. He led off with a single, stole second, got to third on a wild pitch and then came home on a fielder's choice ground out by centerfielder James Barksdale. Barksdale would cross home plate later in the inning when shortstop Brian Friday singled.
"It was great," Ward said. "The base running by Barksdale [...] he really sparked the offense tonight. He didn't get a hit but he wreaked havoc."
Robles helped to fuel his team's successful night by having a strong showing on the mound. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits and faced only one player over the minimum. The win gives Robles a 3-7 record on the season.
His relief, Daniel Moskos allowed the Spinners their only run of the night. In his second inning of work, Moskos gave up a lead off homer to Lowell shortstop Jorge Jimenez.
