AUBURN, N.Y. — The State College Spikes’ losing streak reached five games Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss to the Auburn Doubledays.
The loss dropped the Spikes (29-32) eight games behind the Doubledays in the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division standings with 15 games left in the season.
Auburn took advantage of three State College errors, two of which came from shortstop Chris Diaz, who now has made 14 miscues this season.
Joely Rodriguez (3-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up all three runs and six hits while striking out six and walking two in five innings. Lance Breedlove put together a strong effort in relief, allowing just one hit and a walk over three innings.
Auburn’s Tony Renda scored the game’s first run in the opening inning, reaching on a single, advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on one of those Diaz errors.
Two more runs came home in the third on doubles for Carlos Alvarez and Wander Ramos and an RBI single for Wes Schill.
The Spikes’ lone run came home in the fifth. Walker Gourley and D.J. Crumlich started the frame with singles. Gourley tried to score on an infield grounder by Jesus Vasquez, but Gourley was thrown out at home plate. A Samuel Gonzalez single would late plate Crumlich.
Pedro Encarnacion (4-1) pitched six solid innings for the win, allowing just the one run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Cody Davis earned his second save while pitching the final 12⁄3 innings.
Before the game, the Spikes announed right-handed pitcher Pat Ludwig and outfielder Alex Fuselier were promoted to full-season Class A West Virginia.
