Despite getting the most base hits of their three games thus far, the State College Spikes failed to get in the win column yet again, losing to the Williamsport Crosscutters, 4-2.
The Crosscutters struck first in the second inning when catcher James Klocke hit an RBI single off Spikes starting pitcher Brooks Pounders, a 2009 second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pounders pitched four innings, allowing just three hits and the one run, which was unearned. The 19-year old struck out one and issued no walks.
Williamsport added two more runs in the fifth inning off southpaw Zachary Fuesser, who pitched three innings in relief for the Spikes (0-3). Fuesser, also a 19-year old 2009 draft pick, gave up just the two runs, one of which was unearned, and one hit, striking out two and walking one.
The Spikes finally got on the board in the seventh frame. Three consecutive singles brought home one run, and a groundout by Gerlis Rodriguez brought home the other.
The Crosscutters expanded their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth on a Miguel Alvarez RBI double off Spikes reliever Jarryd Sullivan.
Chase Johnson entered the game in the ninth to close out the game for Williamsport (3-0). Though Kelson Brown led off the inning with a single -- his third hit of the day and team-leading ninth of the season -- a double play and a groundout ended the game and completed the sweep for the Crosscuttters.
Eric Pettis earned the win in his first professional start, pitching five innings of shutout baseball. The right-hander allowed four hits, struck out four and walked none. Johnson, who appeared in the season-opener for Williamsport, notched his second save of the young season.
The Spikes return home for a five-game homestand, which starts at 7:05 p.m. Monday against the Batavia Muckdogs. Right-hander Kevin Decker will get his first professional start for State College, which hopes to earn its first win of 2010.
