Spikes finish sweep of Scrappers

Staff report

STATE COLLEGE, PA.

Two trends continued Tuesday night as New York-Penn League rivals Mahoning Valley and State College finished a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The first involved the Spikes’ dominance of the Scrappers. State College beat Mahoning Valley, 7-5, to improve to 5-0 against the Scrappers this season.

The second involved Mahoning Valley’s current slide, which is now at three games — and five of six — after the Spikes’ swept the series.

Orlando Olivera went 3 for 4 and drove in four runs for State College (26-24), which built a 5-1 lead after three innings.

Mahoning Valley (22-27) tied the game at 5 with four runs in the top of the fifth.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the seventh when Olivera’s two-out, two-run single drove in Thomas Spitz and Leobaldo Pina.

The Scrappers’ Ka’ai Tom singled twice and homered — a solo shot for his second of the season.

Daniel Salters drove in two runs for Mahoning Valley.

The Scrappers’ pitching struggled at the outset and late. Starter Shao-Ching Chiang went 22/3 innings and allowed five runs, all earned, on eight hits.

Brock Hartson followed with 31/3 scoreless innings of relief and left with the game tied. The Spikes’ winning rally came against Jordan Carter (1-2).

Kender Villegas (1-2) got the win in relief for State College.

The Scrappers open a three-game series against Hudson Valley at 7:05 tonight at Eastwood Field.