Spikes Weekend Recap, August 17-19
8/17 – Auburn Doubledays at State College Spikes
The Spikes fell to the Doubledays 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Despite out-hitting the Doubledays six to five, the Spikes were held scoreless by three Auburn pitchers. Ivan Pineyro earned the win and Robert Benincasa picked up the save.
Adrian Sampson took the loss for the Spikes despite working 4.2 innings allowing just three hits and one run.
The only run of the ballgame came in the fifth inning when the Doubledays scored with two outs. A two out walk from Spencer Kieboom and an error by Chris Diaz kept the inning alive. Kieboom scored on a single by Tony Renda and that’s all the Doubledays would need to take this one.
8/18 – Auburn Doubledays at State College Spikes
The Doubledays defeated the Spikes Saturday night 10-8 as the Spikes could not overcome four costly errors in the game.
The Spikes took a 5-4 lead heading in to the ninth inning but failed to put the game away and yielded three errors, aiding the Doubledays to a six run ninth.
17-year-old Luis Heredia had his worst start as a professional. In his shortest outing of the year Heredia went just 3.1 innings and allowed six hits and four runs. He did not get the decision as Kyle Haynes blew the save and picked up the loss.
Andrew Wall got the win for the Doubledays as Derek Self racked up save number 11, second best in the New York-Penn League.
Jesus Vasquez showed off his power in the game as he hit solo homers for the Spikes in the sixth and eighth innings, his third and fourth this season.
Jacob Stallings also went yard for the Spikes in the ninth inning, his first of the year.
Speedy Tyler Gaffney had a big game for the Spikes as well with two triples and a double comprising his 3-for-3 night with two walks and three runs scored.
The back-to-back losses to the Doubledays drop the Spikes further out of first place in the divisional race. They will face each other six more times before the 2012 regular season is in the books.
8/19 – State College Spikes at Williamsport Crosscutters
The Spikes dropped their third game in a row on Sunday with a 5-4 loss to the Crosscutters.
Clay Holmes continues to struggle on the mound as he took the loss. He allowed a season high five runs on six hits and walked three.
Alex Fuslier led the Spikes in the hits category with three in five trips to the plate.
After the weekend, the Spikes dropped to third place at 29-30 and now sit seven games behind the Pinckney division leading Auburn Doubledays.
The Spikes take on the Crosscutters in Williamsport on Monday night before traveling to Falcon Park to take on the Doubledays in a pivotal three game set.
The Spikes return home on Friday to take on Jamestown at 7:05.
Ryan Mellon is a senior majoring in Print Journalism. To contact him, e-mail rcm5159@psu.edu.
