SPIKES RALLY IN THE NINTH TOPPLES SCRAPPERS

By Ty Bartell 

 

NILES, Ohio — The Mahoning Valley Scrappers fell to the State College Spikes 6-2, spearheaded by a five-run ninth-inning rally by State College.

A pair of lefties started on the mound for both squads, as Grant Umberger got the nod for Mahoning Valley. Meanwhile, the Spikes countered with Jeremy Neff. Both pitchers tossed scoreless innings in the first and second. After Umberger posted another zero in the third, the Scrappers struck first in the bottom half of the inning with a Drey Dirksen RBI single to plate Blake McCrae, putting Mahoning Valley up 1-0.

That would be the lone run for the next few innings as both Umberger and Neff notched quality starts, each going six innings. Umberger struck out seven, allowing just two hits and no walks. Neff also tallied seven strikeouts, allowing one earned run on two hits and four walks.

The Spikes tied the ballgame in the top of the seventh when Austin Baal hit an RBI double off new Scrappers pitcher Jonathan Martinez, scoring Grant Norris to even the game at 1-1. In the bottom half of the inning, the Scrappers responded with a Drew Holderbach RBI single off new Spikes arm Leo Palacios, bringing Jake Tsukada home to reclaim the advantage at 2-1 Mahoning Valley.

After a scoreless eighth inning for both teams, AJ Riddle replaced Martinez and was just one out away from notching a save with the bases loaded. However, Josh Spiegel reached on an error by Tsukada at third to tie the game 2-2. Following that, the wheels fell off the wagon as back-to-back two-run singles by Caleb Hill and Cooper Hext quickly flipped the game, putting State College up 6-2 with two outs in the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, David Lee took over for Daelen Caraway on the mound. The Scrappers made it interesting by loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs, but a quick-dropping fly ball to left was nicely corralled by Will Jewell to secure the win for State College 6-2.

Both teams will be back in action on Sunday, July 21, for the concluding game in the four-game series between the Scrappers (18-19) and the Spikes (20-18).