TRENTON, N.J. — The State College Spikes extended their lead in the race for the MLB Draft League’s first-half title, plating a franchise-record 12 runs in the eighth inning and notching their most lopsided win ever as they routed the Trenton Thunder, 18-0, on Sunday afternoon at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.

The Spikes (14-10) lead second-place West Virginia (13-11) by a full game with five games remaining on the first-half schedule. The Black Bears, who defeated Williamsport on Sunday, do hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against State College with a 2-1 advantage in their first-half matchups.

State College extended a 4-0 lead on Trenton (14-13) entering the eighth by bringing 18 batters to the plate. RBI singles from Harrison Didawick and Ryan Rivera combined with Landen Johnson’s two-run single to get the inning going before six walks and two hit batsmen with the bases loaded kept the onslaught going.

The Spikes also drew a total of 20 walks for the game, breaking their own franchise record and MLB Draft League record of 17 set back on June 25.

Johnson knocked in a total of four runs, while Rivera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 performance that included three walks.

Amidst the offensive explosion, four Spikes pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout. Starter Bobby Olsen (2-0) allowed just two hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while striking out five batters over five innings to earn the win. Trenton starter Joe Ariola (0-1) was forced to depart the game due to an apparent injury after 1 1/3 innings and took the loss.

The Spikes face the Frederick Keys for the opener of a three-game series at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday.

Senators shut out Curve

ALTOONA — The Altoona Curve’s offense was held to just three hits and two walks in a 2-0 defeat to the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday afternoon at FNB Field in Eastern League action.

Despite the loss, Altoona (39-41, 9-3 second half) wrapped up its series with Harrisburg (38-43, 4-8) winning four-of-six games played.

Blake Townsend pitched well as he started a bullpen day again for the Curve, his sixth of the season. Townsend permitted an unearned run in the third and another run in the fourth on a pair of singles. Townsend allowed four hits and suffered the loss in the game despite not walking a batter. Emmanuel Chapman tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief after Townsend and allowed just two base runners himself.

Brandon Bidois threw another dominant relief outing for Altoona, covering the seventh and eighth innings on the mound. Bidois last allowed a run on June 14 and has tossed eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts since arriving with Altoona.

Offensively, the Curve managed only three hits and two walks in the loss. Kervin Pichardo picked up a double to lead off the second but was stranded at third to end the inning. Esmerlyn Valdez singled with one out in the fifth inning then Duce Gourson drew a walk, Harrisburg reliever Miguel Gomez retired the next two hitters to keep the Curve off the scoreboard.

Harrisburg’s five pitchers combined for the 13th shutout of the Curve this season. It was the first time the Curve were held without a run in a game since June 10 against Erie.

The Curve continue their road trip on Tuesday night at 6:07 p.m. at Binghamton’s Mirabito Park. RHP Po-Yu Chen takes the ball for the Curve in the series opener with Binghamton’s starter to be announced.