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Spikes back on top of NYPL standings

NILES, Ohio – The State College Spikes recorded their 48th win of the season, matching the franchise high-water mark set by the 2013 and 2014 editions of the club, with a 4-2 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Friday night at Eastwood Field.

The win, along with Hudson Valley’s loss to Vermont, also allowed the Spikes (48-25) to claim a hold on the top seed in the New York-Penn League playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season. The playoffs will start on Wednesday with Game 1 of the NYPL Semifinal Series at the lower seed, with the higher seed hosting Game 2 on Thursday.

Ryan McCarvel smashed his 10th home run of the season in the fourth to set a new franchise record for single-season homers by a right-handed hitter. McCarvel’s two-run shot to left allowed him to surpass Alex De Leon, who hit nine in 2014. The slugger also joins David Washington in 2013 and Rowan Wick in 2014 as Spikes with double-digit home runs in a year.

Mick Fennell then brought in two runs with a two-out squeeze bunt single in the seventh. Anthony Ray scored from third, and Tommy Edman dashed home from second on the play.

Mahoning Valley (35-37) got on the board with an RBI groundout from Gavin Collins in the seventh. The Scrappers also scored a run on a double-play ball in the ninth, but could get no closer.

Jordan Hicks started for the Spikes and went three scoreless innings before exiting the game. Hicks yielded just one hit, but gave up five walks and a hit batsman in throwing 57 pitches during the outing.

Jordan DeLorenzo (2-1) then took over and allowed one run on four hits and a walk over four innings for the win. DeLorenzo struck out five batters on the night.

Connor Jones (1), the Cardinals’ 2016 second-round draft choice, yielded a run on three hits over two innings to finish the game for his first professional save.

Scrappers reliever Luis Jimenez (1-5) took the loss. Jimenez went the final six innings and gave up four runs, three of them earned, on five hits and three walks. The right-hander also struck out two batters.

The Spikes now look to keep their hold on the top seed in the playoffs as they complete their series with the Scrappers Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at Eastwood Field. Right-hander Carson Cross (5-5) gets the ball for State College to face Mahoning Valley right-hander Aaron Civale (0-2).

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