Heredia fuels State College Spikes to win in finale

Published: September 6, 2012 

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State College's Luis Heredia pitches against Mahoning Valley on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Christopher Weddle

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— State College ended its New York-Penn League season in style on Wednesday, as Luis Heredia allowed just two hits and a walk over five innings of work in the Spikes’ 5-0 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the finale before 4,607 fans at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Heredia (4-2), making his final start in a State College uniform, gave up a walk to Logan Vick in the second inning, a single to Dorssys Paulino in the fourth and a double to Jeremy Lucas in the fifth, while retiring each of the other 15 batters he faced. The 18-year-old right-hander struck out five batters in the game, setting a new career-high mark for strikeouts in a single game.

State College finished its season at 35-41.

The Spikes’ offense bolstered Heredia with a strong effort, and started to roll in the second inning. Samuel Gonzalez led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on Dilson Herrera’s bunt single. Jesus Vasquez followed with the first of two doubles to plate the game’s opening run. Eric Wood then brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to left field to give State College a two-run lead.

In the fourth, the Spikes built onto their lead when Vasquez and Wood delivered back-to-back doubles to extend their lead to 3-0. Walker Gourley’s leadoff double in the fifth led to another State College run on Chris Diaz’s RBI single, while Gourley’s third double of the game scoring the final Spikes run in the sixth.

Gourley finished the night 3-for-4 with three doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Vasquez went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.

Kevin Kleis hurled two three-hit innings in the sixth and seventh, striking out three to continue the shutout. Bryton Trepagnier and John Kuchno then added a scoreless frame apiece, with Kuchno striking out one, to seal State College’s seventh shutout victory of the year.

Luis Morel (2-6) started and took the loss for Mahoning Valley (30-45) after yielding four runs on nine hits and striking out five.

Paulino and Lucas were the lone Scrappers with multiple hits in the game.

The Spikes finished the 2012 season 19-18 at home. Diaz and Gourley each finished the year tied for the New York-Penn League lead in sacrifice bunts with nine apiece.

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