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State College Spikes

Spikes Build Big Lead, Hang on for 4-3 Win over West Virginia

July 17, 2018 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


GRANVILLE, W.V. - The State College Spikes smashed five doubles to grab a 4-0 lead, then received clutch pitching efforts to hold on for a 4-3 victory over the West Virginia Black Bears on Tuesday night at Monongalia County Ballpark.

Lars Nootbaar's two-run double in the third, his first extra-base hit as a professional, completed the Spikes' (12-19) early flurry, which also featured two doubles for Stanley Espinal and a second-inning RBI double for Wadye Ynfante.

Brady Whalen's run-scoring groundout in the first put State College on the board.

The Black Bears (11-20), who were playing as the West Virginia Moonshiners, jumped on the board with Nick Valaika's second homer of the season, a solo shot to left in the fifth inning. Raul Siri then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field later in the same frame to cut the deficit to one run.

West Virginia threatened in the seventh as Robbie Glendinning doubled and scored following three consecutive walks. However, Hector Villalobos struck out Edison Lantigua to end the inning.

Villalobos also struck out Siri with the tying run on third in the eighth, then struck out Brett Kinneman with the tying run on second for the second out of the ninth.

Cory Malcom (4) then elicted a flyout from Lantigua to finish the game and earn his fourth save in as many opportunities. Malcom also yielded a walk in his 1/3 of an inning on the hill.

Diego Cordero (1-0) got the win for State College with a quality start on the hill. Cordero yielded three runs, two of them earned, on six hits, two walks and a hit batsman over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander also struck out three batters on the night.

West Virginia starter Mike LoPresti (1-1) drew the loss after giving up all four State College runs on seven hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings. LoPresti also recorded one strikeout.

Wednesday, the two teams meet at Monongalia County Ballpark for the middle game of their three-game set with a 7:05 p.m. start time. Right-hander Chris Holba (1-1) will make the start for State College, while left-hander Zach Spears (0-1) heads to the mound for West Virginia.

After the trio of games in West Virginia, the Spikes will host the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals) for a weekend series Friday through Sunday. Highlights of the homestand include a LaVar Arrington Appearance, along with a Spikes Pre-Game Team Autograph Session and a 2018 Team Poster Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans presented by Penn State Health, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics on Friday, July 20, followed by a Myrtle Beach Trip Giveaway for one lucky fan 18 and over and FIREWORKS presented by VisitMyrtleBeach.com on Saturday, July 21.

Then on Sunday, July 22, the Spikes will take on the Doubledays at 6:05 p.m for the annual Paint the Park Pink event at the ballpark, presented by Mount Nittany Health, as fans can help raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

The Spikes will wear special Pink Sunrise Jerseys, which will go up for bids in a Jersey-off-the-Back Auction to benefit the Mount Nittany Health Foundation. In addition, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Pink Sunrise Shirtsey, and fans will be dazzled by another Spike-tacular post-game FIREWORKS show.

Tickets for each game from Friday through Sunday, as well as the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau, the 2018 NYPL All-Star Tailgate Gala presented by Reinhart Foodservice, and every game on the 2018 Spikes home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, as well as 9 a.m. to the end of the game Friday. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Monongalia County Ballpark. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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