Spikes’ late rally not enough in 5-2 loss to scrappers

July 19, 2024 – Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
State College Raises Press Release

NILES, Ohio – The State College Spikes trailed 4-0 entering the eighth inning, but came back to score the tying run in the ninth, but ultimately lost 5-2 to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Friday night at Eastwood Field.

Austin Roccaforte scored the first run for the Spikes (0-2 in the bottom half) after reaching with a single up the middle in the eighth inning, stealing second, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a passed ball to make it 4-1.

After Mahoning Valley (2-0 bottom half) scored an extra run on catcher Matt Rivera’s sacrifice fly to center in the eighth, Cam Bufford singled through the right side to lead off the ninth, then stole second on Sungkyung Kim’s second strikeout of the inning. Knox Preston then singled down the right-field line to bring in Bufford.

After Roccaforte drove Preston to third, Cooper Hext came to bat for the tying run. However, Rivera threw Roccaforte out on a steal attempt to end the game.

Roccaforte, who didn’t come on until the fifth inning, and Preston both had multiple hits.

Spikes starter Phillip Bryant (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits and one walk in four innings. Bryant retired three batters in the effort.

Mahoning Valley reliever Cole Chimenti (1-0) retired all seven batters he faced, striking out one, from the fifth through seventh innings to win the game.

Changyong Lee, who joined the Scrappers from the KBO’s Samsung Lions along with Kim, hit his first home run for Mahoning Valley in the second inning with a solo hit to left field.

On Saturday, the Spikes will face the Scrappers at 7:05 p.m. for the third game of their four-game set at Eastwood Field. Virginia Tech left-hander Jeremy Neff is scheduled to start for State College in his Spikes debut.

While the Spikes are gone, fans can still enjoy Medlar FIeld at Lubrano Park with their first-ever Movie Night on Saturday, July 20th. Fans are invited to the stadium for a special presentation of “Barbie” on the stadium’s massive, brand new video board with FREE admission.

The video board, a centerpiece of the upgrades at Medlar Field in Lubrano Park, features 2,739 square feet of dazzling high definition, and fans will be thrilled to see the wildly popular film in the unique baseball stadium atmosphere with refreshments available at various baseball stadium concession stands. Gates to the ballpark open at 7:00 p.m., and showtime is at 8:00 p.m.

All Movie Night parking is available in the Porter North parking lot. Movie Night parking follows Penn State’s on-campus parking policy, with parking available for purchase through the ParkMobile app or at the kiosk in the Porter North parking lot for $1/hour.

The Spikes’ home slate resumes on Tuesday, July 23 with a 6:35 p.m. ET matchup against the Frederick Keys on a Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends, featuring half-price Walking Tacos at the Salsa Consumption Stand throughout the game, plus half-price Miller Lite and Coors Light from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets for all remaining 2024 Spikes home games at the renovated Medlar Field at Lubrano Park through Sept. 3, fans can call 814-272-1711 or stop by the Spikes Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. On home game days, tickets are open from 9 a.m. to close of game Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to close of game Saturday and Sunday.

Fans can also purchase and download individual game tickets 24/7 and view the 2024 promotional schedule at StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Follow all the action from Saturday’s Spikes game on the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics with Joe Putnam on the line. The broadcast begins with Spikes Live! presented by Mount Nittany Health airing from Eastwood Field at approximately 6:50 p.m.

The game can be watched worldwide on Pixellot’s MLB Draft League streaming platform at MLB.watch.pixellot.tv and in the Watch section of the MLB app by scrolling to the Watch Now tab, along with the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com and the TuneIn Radio app.

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