BATAVIA, N.Y. - The State College Spikes fell victim to the Batavia Muckdogs' four-run, eighth inning Thursday night at Dwyer Stadium, losing 8-5.
The Muckdogs took their only lead of the game with their eighth-inning surge.
Quincy Latimore led the Spikes going 4-for-4 at the plate, earning two RBIs and scoring once.
Butch Biela extended his hitting streak, going 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.
After leaving runners at third base in both the first and second innings, the Spikes took the lead when Ciro Rosero hit his first home run of the season to left field.
Jose Garcia evened the score in the Muckdogs' (25-16) half of the second, doubling to score Charlie Cutler.
The Spikes (9-31) gained a two-run lead in the fourth inning, beginning
with a Biela single. Latimore followed with his first hit of the night, a
single through the hole at short stop. Both Biela and Latimore scored on
a Miguel Mendez double down the left field line.
In the fifth inning the Spikes added a couple runs when Chase d'Arnaud and
Jeremy Farrell scored on Latimore's second single of the night.
Errors hampered the Spikes in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing the
Muckdogs to shrink the lead to one run. Batavia hit three consecutive
doubles, leading to two runs. The third run of the inning scored due to
the Spikes committing both a throwing and fielding error.
Neither team would score for the following 2.5 innings. The Muckdogs
broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the eighth inning when the team
scored four runs on five hits, all with two outs. The three-run lead
would be all the Muckdogs needed to complete the win.
Rudy Owens (1-5) took the loss for the Spikes, allowing four runs on five
hits in three innings. All the hits and runs charged to Owens came in the
eighth inning.
Batavia's Hector Cardenas (3-0) walked away with the win for the Muckdogs,
pitching two shutout innings, allowing only two hits. Adam Reifer earned
his 12th save, pitching the final inning, allowing no hits.
The two teams continue the series tomorrow night, with first pitch set for
7:05 p.m. Maurice Bankston (0-4) will take the mound for the Spikes
against the Muckdogs' Arquimedes Nieto (4-0). All the action can be heard
on the Spikes Radio Network, 95.3/3WZ, beginning at 6:50 p.m.
The Spikes return home Wednesday night to continue the Sawbuck Series
against the Williamsport Crosscutters at 7:05 p.m. Medlar Field at
Lubrano Park will host Bark in the Park on Wednesday and Skyy Dogs USA and
Rockin' Ray will be on hand as well. Tickets are available at
877-99-SPIKES or online at www.statecollegespikes.com.
