State College ends losing streak with 2-1 victory over Scrappers

By Eric Hamilton

Mahoning Valley scored a run in the top of the ninth but couldn’t get closer.

NILES – The streak is over.

State College (12-47), the worst team in the New York-Penn League, snapped its 11-game losing streak to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Saturday night, earning a 2-1 victory at Eastwood Field in front of a crowd of 3,416.

The Spikes’ last victory came against Williamsport on Aug. 8.

After wasting scoring opportunities in each of the first eight innings, the Scrappers made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, getting within 2-1 on a two-out RBI-single from Ryan Blair.

But the rally was cut short, as Fedroff hit into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

“We’ve made strides offensively this season, but we haven’t been a team that has gotten the big hits sometimes,” Scrappers manager Travis Fryman said. “We had some opportunities tonight, but we couldn’t score when we had the chance.”

State College nursed a 2-0 lead from the fourth inning on and the Scrappers had plenty of opportunities to close the gap.

But the inability to come up with the big hit at the right time led to the Scrappers’ demise. Mahoning Valley stranded 10 runners on base — at least one in every inning — and couldn’t capitalize on four State College walks.

In addition, the Scrappers committed two errors and had a runner picked off second base.

State College got on the board early, scoring a run in the top of the first. The Spikes’ run was unearned as they took advantage of a Scrappers error followed by an RBI double by Ciro Rosero. That gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Spikes added another run in the fourth via a run-scoring single by DH Kyle Morgan.

The Scrappers’ first big scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth with two runners on and no outs. Cord Phelps and Lonnie Chisenhall drew back-to-back walks to start the inning.

But Phelps was picked off second base by State College pitcher Jorge Charry for the first out of the inning. Chisenhall advanced to second during the rundown.

After a strikeout by Robbie Alcombrack, Brock Simpson was issued the third free pass of the inning with two outs. But Mahoning Valley couldn’t capitalize, as Jeremie Tice grounded out to kill the rally.

In the eighth, the Scrappers nearly cut the 2-0 deficit in half. Phelps coaxed a walk to start the inning. Chisenhall ripped a double down the line, but Phelps was gunned down at the plate for the first out.

Alcombrack popped out to first and Simpson struck out to end the threat and State College retained its 2-0 advantage.

“To me, that was the difference in the game,” said Fryman. “I take the blame for that because I sent him [Phelps] because I didn’t think the play would even be close and it wasn’t a huge risk — being down two runs and no outs. But the catcher did a nice job of blocking the plate.”

Game two of the three-game set is today, starting at 6:05. Fans are encouraged to wear their Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers garb for Browns-Steelers Night.

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STATE COLLEGESCRAPPERS

abrhbiabrhbi

Payne 3b4120Fedroff cf5000Rosero cf4011Phelps 2b2010

D’Arnaud ss4000Chisenhall ss3020

Farrell 1b4120Alcombrck 1b4000

Biela lf4010Simpson rf3000

Latimore rf4000Tice 3b4010

Morgan dh4031Velasquez ss4010

Peley c4000Valadez c4130

Vasquez 2b4000Blair lf4021

Totals36292Totals331101

State College100100000—2

Scrappers000000001—1

E—Payne (10). DP—State College 2, Scrappers 2. LOB—State College 7, Scrappers 9. 2B—Rosero (9), Chisenhall (18). SB—Farrell (2), Payne (3). CS—Phelps (3). PO—Phelps.

IPHRERBBSO

State College

Amaro W, 1-1560001

Charry2 1-320041

Knotts S, 11 2-321002

Scrappers

Zocchi562104

McGuire220001

Morales210001

WP—Amaro, Knotts. Umpires—Home, Ryan Goodman; Bases, Joseph Born. T—2:28. A—3,416.