NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE

Spikes take series in extras

Holt’s triple in 10th sparks State College

From CDT staff reports

FISHKILL, N.Y. — Brock Holt tripled and scored the game-winning run on David Rubinstein's sacrifice fly as State College outlasted Hudson Valley 3-2 in 10 innings in a New York-Penn League baseball clash on Sunday.

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The triumph gave the Spikes (26-25) the rubber game of their three-game series, their first road series triumph against a non-Pinckney Division team this season.

After Holt’s blast to right field, Aaron Baker drew a one-out walk before Rubinstein’s game-winning fly ball to right. Spikes’ reliever Alan Knotts hit Diogenes Luis with one out in the 10th, but later picked off the Hudson Valley baserunner in earning his second save of the season.

The Renegades (25-26) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to Christopher Murrill’s speed. Murrill led off with an infield single, stole second base and scored on Tyler Bortnick’s one-out single to left.

The Spikes finally broke through against Hudson Valley starter Jason McEachern with an unearned run in the fourth. Baker smacked a one-out double to left, moved to third on Rubinstein’s single and came home when Renegade first baseman Eli Sonoqui missed a pickoff throw.

State College moved ahead in the seventh. Pat Irvine led off with a single against McEachern, who left after striking out the next batter Deybis Benitez. Andy Vasquez greeted reliever James Hill with a single to right to move Irvine to third and Irvine scored on Miguel Mendez’s two-out infield hit.

Murrill’s speed got the Renegades even in the eighth. He singled to right with one out, swiped second and third, and scored as catcher Mendez’s throw to third was wild.

State College pitchers were outstanding Sunday. Starter Maurice Bankston allowed seven hits and a run over six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. Reliever Mike Williams (2-1) pitched three innings, striking out six, to earn the win before giving way to Knotts.

Baker and Rubinstein led the Spikes’ eight-hit attack with two hits each.

McEachern allowed five hits and struck out seven in 61/ 3 innings. Bladimir Florentino (2-3) took the loss.

State College has a day off today before returning home to start a three-game series with Stedler-Division leading Oneonta (27-21) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.