NILES, Ohio — The State College Spikes are playing like a team that needs a few days at home.

The Spikes ended a six-game roadtrip with by mustering just four singles in a 3-1 loss to Mahoning Valley on Saturday at Eastwood Field.

The Spikes (7-6) finished the roadtrip 2-4 after being swept by the Scrappers (6-7). The Spikes, who are 2-6 on the road, begin a three-game home series against Batavia tonight. They are 5-0 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Mahoning Valley touched Jake Burnette early as Charlie Valerio hit a two-run homer with two outs in the first inning. Burnette didn’t surrender another run, allowing five hits in five innings.

The Spikes didn’t give the 19-year-old right-hander any help. Jacob Stallings scored their lone run on catcher Juan Romero’s passed ball in the second.

Scrappers starter Luis DeJesus allowed four hits in six innings. Relievers Jack Wagoner and Enosil Tejeda followed DeJesus by combining for three perfect relief innings.

The Spikes also received solid bullpen work as Pat Ludwig, Logan Pevny and Emmanuel De Leon combined to allow two hits and one run in three innings. The trio combined for six strikeouts.

Sloppy defense hurt the Spikes. Shortstop Jodaneli Carvajal committed two errors. First baseman Jared Lakind also had an error. Both players have six errors this season. The Spikes have committed 26 errors through 13 games. The total is the second highest in the 14-team New York-Penn League. Staten Island leads the league with 27 errors.

Stallings, D.J. Crumlich, Ryan Hornback and Walker Gourley had singles for the Spikes. Gourley, who plays left field, remained in the game after colliding with center fielder Barrett Barnes in the fourth inning.

Joe Wendle, a sixth-round draft pick from Division II World Series Champion West Chester, tripled for Mahoning Valley, which finished with seven hits.

The Spikes will turn to 17-year-old Luis Heredia tonight to stop the three-game losing streak. Heredia has allowed one earned run through 10 New York-Penn League innings. He allowed eight hits and one earned run in five innings of last Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at Batavaia. Joe Cuda is scheduled to start for the Muckdogs. Cuda allowed five hits and one run in five innings in last week’s meeting.

Notes:The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted reliever Joan Montero to full-season West Virginia. Montero, who was in his second season with the Spikes, started the year by striking out 13 in 81/ 3 scoreless innings. Adrian Sampson, a fifth-round draft

pick from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College, will take Montero’s place on the roster. ... Tonight’s game begins at 6:05 p.m.