Scrappers edge Spikes, 5-4

STATE COLLEGE, PA. — Jason Smit doubled and scored on Chun-Hsui Chen’s seventh-inning base hit to give the Mahoning Valley Scrappers a 5-4 victory Sunday over the State College Spikes.

The win moves the Scrappers (7-3) a half game back of Batavia (5-2) in the Pinckney Division of Class A New York-Penn League.

Jordan Henry and Gregory Folgia opened the game with a double and single. Both scored, giving the Scrappers an early 2-0 advantage.

The lead evaporated in the bottom of the first inning when the Spikes pounced on Scrappers starter Marty Popham for three runs.

After Brock Holt homered, Justin Byler (Warren Harding High) walked and scored on Kyle Morgan’s double. Pat Irvine’s sacrifice fly scored Morgan with the go-ahead run.

Chen scored an unearned run in the fourth inning for a 3-3 tie.

Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning.

Jeremy Johnson relieved Popham in the bottom of the sixth inning, earning a blown save and then the win. He pitched two innings, striking out two. Kaimi Mead pitched the final two innings to earn his first save.

The Scrappers and Spikes play again tonight and Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The Scrappers return home on Wednesday to open a three-game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters.

---

ScrappersState College

abrhbiabrhbi

Henry cf4110Holt 2b3111

Folgia lf3111Vasquez ss5000

Bellows 3b5000Byler dh3100

Smit 1b4111Morgan 1b4211

Allman rf5010Rubenstein rf4010

Chen dh4121Irvine lf-3b2021

Smith ss4020Garcia cf4011

Childs c4111Parry c4000

Basabe 2b4010Payne 3b2000

Biela ph-lf2000

Totals375104Totals33464

Scrappers200101100—5

State College300001000—4

E—Basabe (8), Payne (3). DP—State College 1. LOB—Scrappers 9, State College 7. 2B—Henry (1), Smit (1), Morgan (3), Irvine (2). HR—Holt.

IPHRERBBSO

Scrappers

Popham543324

Johnson BS 1, W, 1-0221012

Mead S 1200003

State College

Bankston 3 2-343213

Foster1-300000

Felix L, 0-1462102

Holden100011

Umpires—Home, Tim Rosso; First, Aaron Larsen. T—3:04. A—4,404.