Spikes Split Double-Header in Williamsport

WILLIAMSPORT, PA - The State College Spikes spilt a doubleheader with the Williamsport Crosscutters on Sunday night at Historic Bowman Field, setting a season-high mark for single-game runs for a 12-6 victory in the first game and falling in game two, 5-0.

In the first game, State College (18-16) rapped 11 hits and scored in every inning but the third. The Spikes plated four runs in the initial frame and didn't look back. Jacob Stallings delivered a two-run single to start the onslaught, and after a Chris Diaz squeeze bunt scored another run, Stallings crossed the plate on an error.

Tyler Gaffney was another player around whom the Spikes' offense was centered, going 2-for-2 with a triple and reaching base three times while scoring a trio of runs. Gaffney would have scored a fourth run, but Williamsport (12-22) catcher Chace Numata held onto the ball in a collision with the Spikes' right fielder to end the top of the second innng. Gaffney also drove in a run in the game.

D.J. Crumlich delivered a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a pair on doubles and a run batted in for State College, while Diaz delivered two RBI. Walker Gourley also excelled, with a double and three runs batted in. Gourley was 1-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly and a time hit by pitch.

Yan Carlos Olmo had a bases-loaded, three-run double in the first inning for the Crosscutters to power the lone Williamsport threat in the first game.

The Spikes were held to just three hits in game two, however. Samuel Gonzalez, Alex Fuselier and Crumlich delivered singles for State College.

Williamsport took control of the nightcap in the second inning, when Brian Pointer sent a two-run triple to the deepest part of center field and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-0 game. The Crosscutters added two runs on a Cameron Perkins single and an RBI groundout by Chris Serritella to complete the scoring.

Emmanuel De Leon (1-1) got the win on the mound for the Spikes in the first game with two one-hit innings over the fifth and sixth. De Leon struck out one in the effort.

Clario Perez (0-1) took the loss in his Spikes debut when he started the second game and allowed all five Williamsport runs on six hits over two-plus innings of work. Josh Smith pitched three perfect innings with three strikeouts in relief of Perez.

Jordan Guth (1-2) took the loss for Williamsport in the first after starting and lasting just one inning. Guth yielded four runs, three of them earned, on three hits and a walk.

Crosscutters reliever Chris Nichols (2-0) got the win in the second game after allowing just one hit and facing the minimum nine batters over three innings. Nichols struck out three Spikes batters. Williamsport starter Kevin Brady gave up just two hits and struck out five, but pitched just four innings.

--Spikes Media Relations--