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Spikes get Scrappers, hit the road

UNIVERSITY PARK — When you are headed out for a road trip, there is no better send off than a satisfying win.

Wednesday night at Medlar Field, the State College Spikes made that happen when they defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 4-1, before 2,141 fans.

“It is always nice to win on that last day before you head on the road,” Spikes manager Joe Kruzel said. “We had some other opportunities during the series to win so I think these guys are starting to believe in themselves a little more so it is going to be exciting to watch these guys grow over the course of the season.”

As for the game, the Spikes executed well in all three areas as they pitched well, they hit the ball well with 10 base hits and played error-free ball.

“We didn’t have as many opportunities tonight to add on because their guy (Scrapper pitcher Juan Mota) settled in after that first inning,” Kruzel said. “He made some better pitches and toughened up on us a little bit so that gave us fewer opportunities with less than two outs. For the most part, I thought our guys did a good job, especially getting out of the gate. Even though we didn’t score that much after the first inning, they still put up some real good at-bats.”

The Spikes jumped on top right out of the chute with a pair of runs in the first inning.

Brendan Donovan led off with a double to right, went to third on an infield single by Justin Toerner and scored when a balk was called against Scrapper starting pitcher Juan Mota.

Toerner advanced to second on the balk, went to third on Brady Whalen’s ground out and scored on an- RBI double to left by Wood Myers.

Alexis Wilson grounded out to third and Myers made it 3-0 State College when he sprinted home on an RBI single to center by Andres Luna.

The 3-0 lead held up until the seventh inning when the Scrappers scored their only run of the game on an RBI double by Jose Fermin.

Up to the challenge, the Spikes bounced right back in their half of the seventh to score to get the run back for a 4-1 lead with two innings left.

Toerner led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Brady Whalen.

“We gave them a run in the seventh, but we came right back and got it back,” Kruzel said. “Some of the things the guys are going right now are just outstanding and that makes it real exciting to watch these guys.”

Leading the Spikes offensive attack was Wood Myers, who finished with three hits, a double and a pair of singles. Wood had two hits the night before, giving him five hits in his two games played in the series.

“I am just picking out good pitches to hit. That is something I have been working on this year,” Myers said. “It is just a matter of my being patient and waiting for my pitch, trying to see it up so that I can drive the ball and it has worked for me so far.”

Having been here before, Myers said the experience he gained last season is a big plus as he continues his career.

“When I came here last year I struggled a little bit and that was a new experience for me,” Myers said. “I know what this league is about now and taking that into this year, it makes my second year here a little bit easier. Last year I took every game to heart and that caused me to think about it too long. This year if I have a bad game, I just come back the next day and approach it as a new day as though the day before didn’t happen.”

The Spikes now head for the West Virginia and a three-game set with the Black Bears before returning home for a series with the Batavia Muckdogs beginning Sunday.

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