Spikes take Crosscutters, 6-0

By rscaife
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Updated: August 28, 2014

By Kenny Varner

UNIVERSITY PARK – In the fight for the second seed in the New York/ Penn League post season, the State College Spikes went toe-to-toe with rival Williamsport.

The Pickney Division champs have been winners of their last 11-of-13.

After its easy 6-0 victory over the Crosscutters, the Spikes are looking to be in post -season form.

Spike third baseman Danny Diekroeger added to his hitting streak, posting his 21^st game in a row with at least a single.

Diekroeger was also instrumental in the Spikes first run of the game.

Leading off the fourth inning, Diekroeger smoked a single into the outfield. His stay on base would be a short one.

With no one out, Nick Thompson blasted a liner into the corner of right field that bounced away from the Crosscutters right fielder, scoring Diekroeger.

Fifth batter Jake Stone brought home Thompson on a sacrifice fly ball, making it 2-0.

Spikes’ hurler Austin Gomber had his stuff early on allowing just three hits in the first five innings. In that time frame he also struck out four.

Despite the two runs in the fourth, Williamsport pitcher Alejandro Arteaga was almost as successful, allowing only three hits in his first five innings.

State College threatened again in the sixth.

Robelys Reyes opened the bottom of the inning with a slow chopper to short. He moved up to second on a balk call.

Reyes took a chance tagging up and moving to third on a Diekroeger sacrifice fly to left. He beat the tag and set the stage for the Williamsport defense to help the Spikes cause.

Thompson hit what seemed to be an easy pop fly into shallow center but it was mishandled by the Crosscutters’ centerfielder, upping the score to 3-0.

Stone put his team up by four when he smoked another triple, bringing a hustling Thompson.

Gombers continued to confuse the Williamsport batters picking up seven strike outs by the time the eighth inning got underway. He allowed only four hits as well.

Reyes, who finished with three hits, tripled with two outs in the seventh scoring Jhohan Acevedo, upping the lead to 5-0.

Williamsport helped keep the inning going committing its second error of the game, allowing Reyes to score the team’s sixth run.

After a successful 7-inning stint by Gombers, the Spikes went to the mound.

Jeff Raugh came into finish off the game for the Spikes in the eighth.

The Crosscutters made it interesting in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs.

However, the Spikes were able to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Spikes will be back in action Thursday night against Williamsport at 7:05.