SPIKES OUTLAST CROSSCUTTERS TO WIN, 2-0, IN TEN INNINGS

By rscaife
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Updated: June 18, 2018

courtesy of State College Spikes

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Stanley Espinal’s two-run homer in the tenth inning broke open a pitcher’s duel and gave the State College Spikes a 2-0 win over the Williamsport Crosscutters on Sunday evening at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

The win was the Spikes’ (2-1) second consecutive extra-inning victory over Williamsport (1-2), after taking a 7-6 decision in 11 innings at their home opener on Saturday.

Espinal’s shot, which traveled an estimated 416 feet, came with one out in the bonus frame off Crosscutters reliever Luis Ramirez (0-1). The home run was the first of the season for State College, and was just the team’s fifth hit of the game.

Regulation play was dominated by the pitchers, with State College right-hander Angel Rondon tossing seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball to start the game. Rondon also gave up one walk and struck out seven batters in an 87-pitch effort.

Williamsport starter Manuel Silva also gave up just two hits in a six-inning start. Silva struck out five batters during his mound tenure before giving way to Orestes Melendez, who whiffed four and gave up two hits over three innings.

Jacob Schlesner followed Rondon and gave up one walk while recording one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Gabe Gentner (1-1), who took the loss for State College in the opening game of the season, then headed to the mound and bounced back with 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Gentner allowed one hit and two walks, one of them intentional, while striking out two batters.

Cory Malcom (1) finished up the three-hit shutout for the Spikes with a perfect tenth inning to pick up the save.

Lars Nootbaar, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2018 eighth-round draft choice, notched the first multi-hit game of his professional career for State College.

Ramirez, who earned the save on Friday against the Spikes, took the loss for the Crosscutters on Sunday after his lone inning of work in the tenth.