EASTWOOD FIELD Mother Nature, Spikes conquer Scrappers, again

Mahoning Valley's ninth-inning rally came up short.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- It's hard to figure out just what is causing the Mahoning Valley Scrappers more problems: their suddenly lackluster bullpen or Mother Nature.
For the second straight night the Scrappers' bullpen couldn't hold a lead after the fifth inning and Mother Nature caused another 50-minute rain delay as the Scrappers suffered an 8-7 loss to the State College Spikes before 3,805 at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers did make a last-ditch, effort scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally stalled with the bases loaded and one run short.
Rookie starter Josh Tomlin when four strong innings before leaving with a 3-1 lead. The right-hander out of Texas Tech has allowed just one run in seven innings this season and struck out four and allowing just three hits.
Reliever Dan Frega allowed four runs over his 1 2/3 innings, including Mark Hamilton's two-run homer in the fifth that tied the game and then two more runs in the sixth before giving way to Dan Eisentrager.
Eisentrager pitched until the rain delay allowing two runs. Jason Schutt came in after the delay and allowed one more run -- with the help of a Scrappers error -- and finished the game with three strikeouts in the ninth.
Hot start
For the second straight game the Scrappers' bats went cold after the first three innings.
Mahoning Valley had seven hits in the first three innings, but just four over the next five innings.
Andy Lytle continued to swing a hot bat with three hits including a double, his first extra base hit of the year, while Dustin Realine also added three hits including a double.
Hamilton led the Spikes with three hits including the big home run.
The Spikes took the early lead scoring in the second inning off Tomlin when Yonathan Sivera doubled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Jose Salazar.
The Scrappers tied it up in their half of the second when Realini singled, went to third on a single by Brent Lacy and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evandy DeLeon.
Mahoning Valley pulled to a 3-1 lead in the third when Lytle led off with a single and went to third on Jared Goedert's double down the left field line.
Lytle scored on Josh Roberts' infield single and Goedert scored on an RBI single by Realini.
Rally time
The Spikes tied the score in the fifth when Nathan Southern doubled with one out and Mark Hamilton homered for the second straight night, a deep blast over the Scrappers bullpen.
State College took the lead in the sixth, scoring twice on just one hit, a two-run double by Salazar.
In the eighth the Scrappers helped the Spikes out committing two errors to go along with three hits, including two doubles, as State College increased its lead to 8-4.
In the ninth, Lytle led off with a double and scored on Goedert's single to left, then Spikes reliever Brian Schroeder had control problems as he walked three and hit a batter allowing two more runs before Lance Marcum came on to get the final two outs and the save.
The Scrappers now head for the road where they will open a three-game series in Williamsport tonight in a 7:05 start.
HOW THEY SCORED
SPIKES 8, SCRAPPERS 7
SECOND INNING
Spikes -- Allen Craig popped out; Yonathan Sivera doubled to deep centerfield; Steve Gonzalez lined out to first; Joe Salazar singled to left, Sivera scoring, Salazar to second on throw home; Jim Rapaport struckout. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Spikes 1, Scrappers 0.
Scrappers -- Dustin Realini singled to left field; Stephen Douglass flied out to left; Brent Lacy singled to right, Realine to third; Evandy DeLeon flied out to right, Realine scoring, Lacy to second; Adam Davis grounded out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Scrappers 1, Spikes 1.
THIRD INNING
Scrappers -- Andy Lytle singled to center; Jared Goedert doubled down left field line, Lytle to third; Cirillo Cumberbatch lined out; Josh Roberts infield single to short, Lytle scoring; Dustin Realini single to left, Goedert scoring, Roberts to third on throw home; Douglass struckout; Roberts was thrown out at home on a double steal attempt. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Scrappers 3, Spikes 1.
FIFTH INNING
Spikes -- Salazar struckout; Rapaport grounded out; Southerd doubled down rightfield line; Hamilton homered deep over right field fence, Southerd scoring; Wilkerson struckout. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB; Scrappers 3, Spikes 3.
SIXTH INNING
Spikes -- Morris flied out; Craig was hit by a pitch; Sivera reached on a fielders choice, Craig out at second; Gonzalez reached on fielders choice, Sivera safe at second on error; Salazar doubled to right center, Sivera, Gonzalez scoring; Rapaport walked; Southerd flies out. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 errors, 2 LOB; Spikes 5, Scrappers 3.
SEVENTH INNING
Scrappers -- Davis doubled down left field line; Lytle grounded out, Davis to third; Goedert singled up middle, Davis scoring; Cumberbatch lined out to third; Roberts struckout. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB; Spikes 5, Scrappers 4.
EIGHTH INNING
Spikes -- Gonzalez doubled to right field; Salazar sacrifice bunt, Gonzalez to third; Rapaport doubled to center, Gonzalez scoring; Southerd singled to center, Rapaport scoring, Southerd to second on error on center; Hamilton reached on an error at short, Southerd scoring; Wilkerson grounded into a double play. 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB; Spikes 8, Scrappers 4.
NINTH INNING
Scrappers -- Lytle doubled to left-center; Goedert singled to left, Lytle scoring; Cumberbatch walked, Goedert to second; Roberts grounded out, Goedert to third, Cumberbatch to second; Realini was hit by a pitch to load bases; Douglass walked, Goedert scoring; Lacy reached on a fielders choice, Cumberbatch scoring, Realini out at third; DeLeon flied out. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors 2 LOB. Spikes 8, Scrappers 7.