AUBURN, N.Y. - McClure native Matt Wright's strong start for the Auburn Doubledays went for naught as the State College Spikes earned a 7-4 win in 11 innings Tuesday night at Falcon Park.
Wright started for Auburn and tossed five innings while allowing four hits and only one earned run. He also walked two and struck out four.
Justin Byler and David Rubinstein delivered back-to-back doubles in the 11th to knock in three runs and help the State College Spikes take advantage of a costly error by the Auburn Doubledays.
State College (19-20) had a runner on first and two outs in the top of the 11th when Pat Irvine hit a ground ball to Auburn (15-24) second baseman Kevin Nolan that was muffed, allowing the inning to continue. Byler and Rubinstein then followed with consecutive two-base hits to provide the margin of victory.
Rubinstein went 3 for 5 with his first home run of the year, a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning, along with two runs scored and two RBIs. Byler, Carlos Silva and Miguel Mendez also contributed multi-hit efforts for the Spikes.
The win allowed State College to surpass last year's win total of 18, and was the Spikes' first 11-inning game of the year. State College is now 2-1 in extra-inning games, with both wins coming in Auburn at the expense of the Doubledays.
Alan Knotts (3-1) earned the win for the Spikes with three scoreless innings, and got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th inning to preserve a tie game. Knotts also struck out five.
Steve Turnbull (1-2) took the loss for Auburn after allowing three unearned runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings of work. Turnbull also struck out three and walked one in the effort.
