STATE COLLEGE -Chris Lashmet produced a pair of hits and two runs batted in for the State College Spikes, but the Mahoning Valley Scrappers collected a total of 20 base hits and match the most runs scored by a Spikes opponent in a 17-4 win on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Lashmet delivered the best offensive effort for State College (10-24) on the night, contributing a two-run double to put the Spikes on the scoreboard in the third inning. The Northwestern product then singled in the sixth inning. Alex Fuselier, Carlos Mesa and Taylor Lewis added multi-hit games for State College.
However, Mahoning Valley (19-15) produced its own offensive punch beginning with a run in the first inning, and added bursts of five runs in the third inning and seven runs in the fifth to compile most of its runs on the night. The Scrappers matched the Staten Island Yankees' record for most runs scored by a team facing the Spikes, set in the Yanks' 17-2 win over State College on July 15, 2006 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes would come back to defeat Staten Island, 6-4, the next night.
Alex Lowery went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and six runs batted in to lead the Scrappers' offensive charge. Jordan Smith added three hits and three RBI, while Jerrud Sabourin notched three hits and a double.
Matt Benedict (1-2) took the loss after allowing eight runs, but just six of them earned, on seven hits and a walk. Benedict added a strikeout in his shortest outing since a three-inning appearance in the Spikes' Home Opener on June 19 against Williamsport.
Rob Nixon (2-3) earned the win for Mahoning Valley by going six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Friday, the Spikes take on the Scrappers for the final time in 2011 with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Stetson Allie (0-0) takes the mound for the second time this year against Mahoning Valley. The State College right-hander, rated the third-best prospect in the Pirates' system by Baseball America, went four innings and allowed just one run on five hits and a hit batsman on July 1 against the Scrappers.
Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander Mason Radeke (1-0). Radeke has faced the Spikes twice this season, and has allowed State College four runs in a combined 10 2/3 innings, with nine strikeouts.
