Crosscutters Pummel Spikes With Impressive Offense
An offensive explosion for 17 hits and a combined one-hitter by four pitchers led the Crosscutters to a 13-1 blow-out against the Spikes in Williamsport Wednesday night.
Five Crosscutters had at least two hits, including a huge performance from Mitch Walding who went 4-for-5 with four RBIs.
Hoby Milner earned the win for the Crosscutters out of the bullpen while Jake Burnette took the loss for the Spikes. Williamsport pitchers Jordan Guth, Hoby Milner, Matthew Sisto and Zach Cooper combined efforts held the Spikes to one hit and one earned run in the contest while striking out nine batters.
The Spikes struck first in the top of the first inning for their only lead of the game after a Raul Fortunato triple to right and a Barrett Barnes sacrifice fly. But the Crosscutters were quick to take the lead in their half of the first. Speedster Roman Quinn doubled to right then advanced to third on a Brock Stassi groundout.
Brian Pointer hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Quinn while Pointer advanced to second on a throwing error by Spikes first baseman Jared Lakind. Williamsport capitalized on the error with a single by Chris Serritella, driving Pointer in to give the Crosscutters a 2-1 lead after one.
Williamsport then piled on seven runs in the bottom of the fourth and would not look back. Mitch Walding started the inning off with a double to left. After a fielder’s choice moved Walding to third, Tyler Greene singled to right, driving in a run and giving the Crosscutters a 3-1 lead. They pushed two more runs across after Quinn beat out a bunt single and Brock Stassi and Brian Pointer contributed base knocks.
After State College changed pitchers for the second time in the inning, a couple of walks, a passed ball and a timely hit from Walding led to four more runs, making the score 9-1.
The hit parade continued for the Crosscutters in the bottom of the fifth when Stassi singled with one out. A two out single moved Stassi to third base setting up a Larry Greene double to bring Stassi in for the Crosscutters tenth run of the game.
The Crosscutters were not done as they scored three more times in the bottom half of the seventh. Pointer led the inning off with a walk and wound up at third after Serritella doubled to left. Yan Olmo doubled to center to score Pointer and move Serritella to third. Olmo and Serritella then scored after Walding singled to center.
The Spikes look to put this one behind them and split the four game series against the Crosscutters back home in State College Thursday night at 7:05. Listen to all Spikes home games live at psucomradio.com.
Ryan Mellon is a senior majoring in Print Journalism. To contact him, e-mail rcm5159@psu.edu.
