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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Caleb Ruter pitched five strong innings to lead the first-place State College Spikes to a three-game series sweep over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers with a 5-3 victory on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Ruter (1-2), a Colorado Mesa product, allowed just one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four batters over five innings of work to earn his first win for the Spikes (15-8 2nd Half).
The win ran the Spikes' home record during the second half of the season to 11-1, and allowed them to extend their lead in the MLB Draft League second-half standings to 2 ½ games over the Aberdeen IronBirds.
Mahoning Valley (8-16 2nd Half) took the lead on Cooper Vance's RBI single in the first before the Spikes responded in the fourth. Blake Bradford led off the inning with a single, then moved to second base when newcomer Jett Buck was hit with a pitch. After a flyout and a walk to Ryan Rivera that loaded the bases, Nyan Hayes's infield single scored Bradford to tie the game.
Trent Turner's ground ball fielder's choice then brought in Buck to give State College the lead, followed by a wild pitch on ball four to CJ Richmond.
In the fifth, the Spikes added a pair of runs when Buck's single and a subsequent error brought in Justin Journette, followed by Elie Kligman's sacrifice fly to drive in Buck.
The Scrappers attempted to rally late, but were shut down by JJ Reyes (1), who allowed just one walk and struck out two batters in a four-out save.
Mahoning Valley starter Jay Newman (1-2) allowed all five Spikes runs, four of them earned on seven hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings. Newman struck out four batters in the effort.