NILES, OH The State College Spikes allowed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers six runs in the first inning, and could get no closer as they fell, 8-1, on Sunday evening at Eastwood Field.
All six runs in the first were charged to State College (2-8) left-hander Mike Jefferson, who made his pro debut in the game. Four doubles and a pair of singles did the damage as Mahoning Valley (7-3) sent ten batters to the plate in the frame.
Mahoning Valley then added an unearned run in the second inning off Spikes reliever Vince Payne, who recovered by retiring the last ten batters he faced over 4 1/3 innings. Payne's outing was the longest in relief for any State College pitcher in 2011.
Taylor Lewis knocked in the Spikes' only run in the third inning as part of a 2-for-4 night, and was the only State College player with multiple hits. Kirk Singer, Brian Sharp, and Walker Gourley added base hits for the Spikes, with Singer producing a double in the ninth inning.
Jefferson allowed a total of six runs on five hits and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning for the loss. Payne yielded two hits and a walk while striking out three batters.
Mason Radeke (1-0) earned the win for the Scrappers in his first professional appearance, going five innings on the mound and giving up one run on three hits and two walks. Radeke also notched four strikeouts.
Jordan Smith went 3-for-4 with a run batted in for Mahoning Valley, and four others Scrappers collected multiple hits in the game. Todd Hankins knocked in three of the first-inning runs for Mahoning Valley with his double.
Monday, the Spikes and Scrappers face off in a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Eastwood Field. State College will have right-hander Nick Kingham (0-2) on the mound for the third start of his pro career. Kingham took a tough-luck loss in his last outing, striking out eight Auburn Doubledays over five innings, but allowing one run in a game that Auburn eventually won.
Mahoning Valley will start with right-hander Joseph Colon (0-1) on the mound.
