Despite a 92-minute rain delay, the State College Spikes managed to keep pace in the New York-Penn League Wild Card race.
While Medlar Field at Lubrano Park was covered with mud, and rain carried on throughout the game, the Spikes (34-33) were able to overcome the sloppy conditions and beat the visiting Williamsport Crosscutters 5-2.
The Spikes' success was aided by what manager Gary Robinson said was starting pitcher Kyle McPherson's best outing of the season. McPherson didn't show any signs of being affected by the rain delay as he went six innings, gave up three hits and struck out eight batters.
Robinson said the right hander used the delay to simply relax and listen to his headphones. While his laid back approach proved to be beneficial, he was tested early. McPherson managed to work out of a jam in the fourth inning, which proved to be critical to the game's outcome.
"The thing I was most impressed with about tonight was when he had runners on second and third with no outs and was able to pitch out of that," Robinson said. "It was a heck of a job and as a matter of fact it was probably the turning point of the game."
McPherson received help from his offense as the Spikes plated two runs in the sixth inning. After left fielder Kyle Saukko scored the first run of the game on a single by shortstop Brock Holt, first baseman Aaron Baker helped extend the lead.
Baker ripped a ball over the head of the center fielder and legged out an RBI triple. The triple was his sixth of the season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Baker is now tied with third baseman Pat Irvine for the most triples on the team.
The Spikes were able to take advantage of a fatigued Siulman LeBron and scored three more runs off of him in the eighth. LeBron (4-5) surrendered seven hits and was charged with five earned runs.
The Spikes are now 5.5 games out of the Wild Card and the Crosscutters are 3.5 back.
The team continues its Wild Card chase at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
