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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Jackson Rains delivered a walk-off RBI single to bring in pinch-runner Hudson Shupe in the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker and give the State College Spikes a 5-4 victory over the Aberdeen IronBirds on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Rains, the reigning MLB Draft League Player of the Week after earning the honors for July 13-19, stepped up with runners on first and third and one out in the extra frame and smashed a grounder through the left side to bring in Shupe.
The Spikes (7-5 2nd Half) rebounded after the IronBirds (9-4 2nd Half), the current first-place team in the MLB Draft League's second half standings, tied the game in the top of the ninth on Nathan Earley's two-out RBI single.
After Camden Ross nearly ended the game with a line drive to the right-center field gap that Aberdeen right fielder Isaiah Parido ran down to end the regulation nine innings, Shupe pinch-ran for Ross as the designated runner at first base to begin the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker. Stan DeMartinis III flied out to center field to begin the bonus frame before Shupe stole second and moved to third on Justin Journette's single through the left side, setting up Rains's heroics.
Spikes starter Caleb Ruter put together a stellar outing, allowing only one unearned run on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings of work.
Journette and Kyle Nomura each produced two hits in regulation, with both of Journette's knocks going for doubles while Nomura notched his fourth triple of the year.
Brian Heckelman produced a three-hit game to help lead the IronBirds offense.
No winning or losing pitcher is named in a game that reaches the MLB Draft League Overtime Tiebreaker.