STATE COLLEGE - Joely Rodriguez combined with Orlando Castro and Kyle Haynes to shut out the Hudson Valley Renegades on four hits, and Derek Trent scored the game's only run in the seventh inning as the State College Spikes halted a five-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Rodriguez set the tone on the mound for State College (24-21) by facing one batter over the minimum during five three-hit innings. The left-hander also picked three runners off of first base during the course of his outing, and retired the first eight batters he faced through three no-hit innings.
Castro (1-0) then continued the Spikes' sterling hurling with three innings of one-hit ball, and recorded four strikeouts while walking one batter. The right-hander ended up with the relief win in his second appearance with the Spikes this season.
Haynes (5) finished off the evening with a perfect ninth inning, striking out one batter in the process to earn the save.
State College needed a little offense, as well, and got it from Trent in the seventh. The Pirates' 2011 31st-round draft choice delivered a one-out double to start the mini-barrage. One batter later, Jodaneli Carvajal reached base on an infield hit with an error allowing Trent to score with the lone Spikes run.
The Spikes very nearly took the lead earlier in the game. In the fourth inning, Jacob Stallings walked with two outs and Chris Diaz doubled to the gap in right-center field. Stallings chugged home, but was called out at the plate in a very close play.
In addition to producing just four hits, Hudson Valley (29-16) never sent a runner past second base, and only did that on two occasions during the game.
Renegades reliever Kris Carlson (1-2) took the loss after yielding the only run of the contest, which was unearned, on two hits over a total of 1 1/3 innings. Starter Jeff Ames made his longest outing of the season in a no-decision, going 5 2/3 shutout frames while giving up three and two walks. Ames also hit two batters and struck out six.
