TROY, N.Y.- In the State College Spikes' second extra-inning game of the year, Marc Baca's wild pitch brought in the game-ending run as the Tri-City ValleyCats topped the Spikes, 6-5, at Joseph Bruno Stadium on Thursday night.
The win gave Tri-City (9-15) a series sweep over State College (13-14) in their three-game set, but it did not come without a Spikes comeback. Down 5-2 after three innings, State College scored a pair of runs in the eighth. Butch Biela then homered to left to lead off the top of the ninth and tie the game up, 5-5.
In the tenth, however, with the bases loaded and one out, the Baca (1-2) wild pitch scored Tri-City pinch-runner Ben Orloff and ended the contest.
Brock Holt launched his third home run of the year for State College in the third inning to tie the game up, 2-2. Justin Byler also aided the Spikes' cause, going 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Erik Castro hit his third home run of the year for Tri-City, a two-run blast to right field in the second inning.
Baca took the loss after coming on in the tenth inning for State College. Phillip Irwin kept the Spikes in the game with four innings of one-run ball from the sixth to ninth innings, striking out a career-high six while walking one.
Brendan Stines (1-0) earned the victory for Tri-City with a scoreless tenth inning in a game delayed one hour and three minutes after a thunderstorm crossed the Tri-City area shortly before game time.
Friday night, the Spikes start a three game set against the Staten Island Yankees with a 7 p.m. matchup at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George. Spikes right-hander Jason Erickson (1-0) gets the start against Yankees right-hander Adam Warren (1-1).
