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Consecutive homers spark Spikes

STATE COLLEGE – Vince Jackson and Ryan McCarvel smashed back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give the State College Spikes a lead they would not relinquish in a 4-3 victory over the Staten Island Yankees on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

With the win and Williamsport’s loss, State College (37-17) extended its lead in the New York-Penn League Pinckey Division to 6 1/2 games, the largest for the Spikes this season.

Jackson’s line drive two-run shot to the picnic area in left field, his second of the season, was followed by McCarvel’s moon shot, his seventh of the season, to the same spot one pitch later.

McCarvel now owns sole possession of third place on the NYPL’s homer list, two behind Miguel Mercedes of Vermont and the now-promoted Stephen Wrenn of Tri-City.

Staten Island (30-23) responded with an RBI double in the third from Dom Thompson-Williams, but Jackson notched his 33rd RBI of the season in the bottom of the same frame with a single to right-center field.

The Yankees crept back into the game on Kane Sweeney’s run-scoring single in the sixth and Thompson-Williams’s RBI groundout in the seventh, but Brady Bowen (7) shut the door with a perfect ninth inning, including one strikeout. Bowen’s seven saves now lead the NYPL as well.

Jordan DeLorenzo started the bullpen-led effort for the Spikes with four one-run innings. DeLorenzo retired the first eight batters he faced and yielded a total of four hits while striking out five batters.

Max Almonte (1-1) and Connor Jones then followed with two one-run innings apiece before Bowen closed the game. Almonte allowed one hit and recorded three strikeouts in the victory.

Staten Island starter Simon De La Rosa (4-2), who got the nod after a change in the Yankees rotation, took the loss. De La Rosa allowed all four Spikes runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings of work.

State College did not leave a runner on base until their final at-bat in the eighth inning.

Saturday, the Spikes and Yankees tangle in the middle game of their three-game series. The 7:05 p.m. matchup, Mifflin and Juniata counties night, will feature right-hander Jordan Hicks (2-0) on the mound for State College. Staten Island will go with right-hander Chad Martin (1-0).

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