FISHKILL, N.Y. - Alex Fuselier reached base in all four of his trips to the plate Thursday night, but two big innings felled the State College Spikes in a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Hudson Valley Renegades at Dutchess Stadium.
Fuselier, the Pirates' 21st-round draft pick in 2011, collected two hits, including an RBI double in the third inning, and two walks on the night. The right fielder also added a stolen base on the evening.
State College (23-35) took the early lead in the game when Ashley Ponce drove in Chris Lashmet with a second-inning sacrifice fly, but Hudson Valley (28-30) erupted for six consecutive hits in its half of the second inning to produce four runs. Brian Bryles brought in two of the runs with a double that looped down the third-base line.
The Spikes responded with two runs of their own in the third, as Wes Freeman brought in Kirk Singer with an RBI single before Fuselier's double scored him. However, the Renegades were able to add two insurance runs in the seventh due in part to two State College errors to extend their lead to three runs.
In the ninth inning, State College made a last-ditch rally thanks to a hit, a walk and an error to load the bases, but could not bring home any more runs.
The loss ended a streak of five straight road wins for the Spikes, who had started the season 4-19 on the road.
Trent Stevenson (0-2) started and took the loss for the Spikes, allowing four runs on ten hits over five innings of work. Josh Poytress added two scoreless innings and notched State College's only three strikeouts on the evening.
Jacob Partridge (2-5) made the start for Hudson Valley after a change in the rotation, and picked up the win. The southpaw allowed three runs, two of them earned, on five hits, three walks and a hit batsman. Partridge made his sixth straight start of five innings or more in the victory. Lenny Linsky (2) picked up the save with two scoreless innings, yielding a hit and two walks while striking out one.
Friday, the Spikes and Renegades finish their three-game series with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Dutchess Stadium. State College will have right-hander Matt Benedict (2-3) on the mound. Hudson Valley will go with right-hander Andrew Bellatti (2-4).
