STATE COLLEGE - Alex Dickerson collected three hits and Roderrick Jones drove in a run while reaching base three times, but the State College Spikes were victimized by the Williamsport Crosscutters' steady offense in a 6-1 defeat at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Friday night.
Dickerson delivered his third three-hit performance of the year, adding a run scored over four at-bats for State College (25-41). The Pirates's 2011 third-round draft choice teamed with Jones, a 37th-round pick of the Pirates in this year's draft, to give the Spikes a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Dickerson singled and scored on Jones's double to right-center field. Jones also walked twice as he produced his third RBI in as many nights for State College
Williamsport (38-29) tied the game in the third inning, though, when Taylor Black began the frame with a triple off of the left-field wall and scored on Francisco Diaz's sacrifice fly. The Crosscutters then took the lead in the fifth inning as they touched Spikes starter Mike Jefferson (2-3) for three more runs, with Diaz's double starting the scoring. Pete Lavin followed the two-bagger with an RBI groundout, and Kyrell Hudson added a run-scoring single.
Black added an RBI single in the sixth inning, and Hudson the same in the ninth, to complete the scoring.
Jefferson yielded a total of four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings in the loss. Jordan Cooper completed the game on the mound for the Spikes with four innings of relief, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out two.
Crosscutters reliever Matt Campbell (3-0) picked up the win by entering the game in the fifth inning and pitching two shutout innings. Campbell gave up a hit and a walk during his tenure on the hill.
Ethan Stewart started for Williamsport in his New York-Penn League debut after getting called up from the Gulf Coast League Phillies. Stewart surrendered a run on five hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings.
The Crosscutters halted a four-game losing streak with their victory, and now stand a half-game back of Brooklyn in the NYPL Wild Card standings.
Saturday, the Spikes and Crosscutters play the middle game of their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 6:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Nick Kingham (4-2) on the mound for State College. Williamsport will have right-hander Mike Nesseth (3-4).
