With all the teams in front of them in the New York-Penn League wild card on their way to wins, the State College Spikes needed to keep pace.

Thanks to a three-run first inning the Spikes did just that, beating the Jamestown Jammers 8-1 to stay 3.5 games back in the wildcard race.

"We're right there in the thick of things for the wildcard," Spikes infielder Aaron Baker said.

"Any win we can get from here on out is just huge for our ball club."

The offensive outburst from State College (33-31) was reminiscent of many nights this sum-

mer, as the Spikes cashed in on two Jamestown (26-38) errors in the first inning, both credited

to Jammers' shortstop Jose Torres.

Torres committed a fielding error on a ball hit by Spikes shortstop Ty Summerlin to put the first two runners on. Two batters later, Torres committed a throwing error with the bases loaded on a ground ball by Baker that allowed two Spikes to score.

"Any time you can get any kind of a lead at the beginning of the game, it's big," Baker said. "Just to help our pitchers find a little cushion, a little comfort zone."

David Rubinstein added an RBI single to give the Spikes a 3-0 lead off of Jamestown starter Curtis Petersen (2-5) that would be

more than enough for Spikes' pitchers Philip Irwin and Nelson Pereira.

Irwin allowed one run on six hits and struck out five in four innings, while Pereira (4-5), allowed just one hit and struck out five in four spotless innings of relief.

With the win, State College remained tied with Batavia for fourth in the wild card race behind Staten Island.

"We can't control what the other teams do," Baker said. "As long as we keep winning, that's all we can do."