Mahoning Valley loses to Spikes in 12

Staff report

STATE COLLEGE, PA.

A balk and an error led to an unearned run in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the State College Spikes a 4-3 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in a New York-Penn League game on Friday night.

The Scrappers (10-5) battled back from a 3-1 deficit scoring the tying run in the ninth inning.

State College (4-11), however, won it in the 12th. Derek Trent singled with one out and was replaced by pinch-runner Alex Fuselier. After Chris Lashmet flied out, Scrappers relief pitcher Ensoil Tejada was called for a balk, moving Fuselier to third.

Samuel Gonzalez’s groundball was then mishandled by Scrappers’ second baseman Todd Hankins for an error, scoring Fuselier with the winning run.

The Scrappers trailed 1-0 before tying the game in the third. With one out Bryson Myles singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Tony Wolters then doubled.

In the fifth, the Scrappers closed to 3-2. Cody Elliott led off with a walk and stole second. After a poput and flyout, Jordan Smith singled to right, scoring Elliott.

In the ninth, Myles walked with one out and scored on Wolters’ second double of the game, tying the score and sending it to extra innings.

Smith finished with three hits for the Scrappers, who stole seven bases in the game, but went 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.

Scrappers starting pitcher Mason Radeke gave up seven hits and three runs in 52/3 innings before giving way to four relievers out of the bullpen.