JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - Walker Gourley compiled three hits for the State College Spikes, including an RBI triple to provide an insurance run in a game one victory, and the Spikes split a pair of seven-inning games with the Jamestown Jammers at Russell Diethrick Park on Thursday night, winning the first contest, 4-2, before dropping the second, 2-1.
State College (32-38) jumped out to an early lead in game one, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. After Gourley led off the proceedings with a walk, he moved to second on a groundout. Jacob Stallings then drew the first of his three bases on balls, and both runners scored when Jesus Vasquez's base hit to left-center field was erred upon by Jamestown (30-39) left fielder Michael Main.
After the Jammers responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning on Sharif Othman's RBI double, Jared Lakind put the Spikes back out in front by two runs with a run-scoring double of his own in the second inning, making the score 3-1.
Jamestown then threatened in the fifth inning. Yeison Hernandez tripled to lead off the frame and scored on a sacrifice fly by Juancito Martinez. Kolby Copeland then tripled with two outs, and an ensuing walk spelled the end for State College starter Luis Heredia. However, reliever Josh Smith (2-1) would come on and end the inning with a strikeout, leaving the score at 3-2 in favor of the Spikes.
Gourley's triple in the seventh gave State College a two-run advantage once again, and Kyle Haynes (7) pitched a one-hit, scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout to earn the save.
In game two, the Spikes stranded five runners on base through the first three innings, and Jamestown plated its only runs of the game in the third on a Viosergy Rosa run-scoring single and an RBI groundout by Michael Vaughn.
Lakind scored a run in the fifth inning for the Spikes on a wild pitch, but State College could not string together enough offense in the late innings to charge back.
Smith got the win for the Spikes in game one with one and one-third scoreless innings in which he yielded one hit and struck out two. Heredia went four and two-thirds innings in the game one start for State College, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. The 18-year-old right-hander did not earn credit for the win as he fell just shy of the five-inning requirement for the victory, which exists even in a seven-inning game.
Dalton Friend (3-2) took the loss for State College in the nightcap despite yielding just two unearned runs on one hit and three walks. Friend also struck out a career-high five in his 4-plus innings of work.
Mason Hope (3-4) took the loss for Jamestown in game one. Hope allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks while striking out four over six innings atop the hill.
In game two, Beau Wright (3-4) got the win in relief after giving up one run on one hit and two walks while striking out one over two innings. Jheyson Manzueta (2) struck out four and gave up just one walk over the last two innings to get the save for the Jammers.
Friday, the Spikes and Jammers are back to single-game action with a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Russell Diethrick Park. State College will send right-hander Clay Holmes (5-3) to the mound. In his last outing, Holmes was one of three pitchers to combine on a 5-0 shutout win over the Jammers this past Saturday. The 19-year-old will also look to atone for his last appearance on the mound at Diethrick Park, in which he went a career-short 1 1/3 innings and walked five batters.
