State College Spikes fall after Williamsport’s seventh-inning rally

For the second straight game, the State College Spikes held the lead heading into the seventh inning — but then their opponent rallied.

The Williamsport Crosscutters edged out State College 4-2 Tuesday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark, thanks in large part to a three-run seventh inning. The Spikes led 2-0 heading into the frame.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh — and with men on the corners — Williamsport’s Josh Stephen doubled on a fly ball to right to drive in two runs. Even with a pitching change immediately afterward, the Spikes surrendered another run after Rodolfo Duran doubled on a line drive to right to plate Stephen.

The Spikes recorded just three hits Tuesday, all of which came in the third inning.

With the loss, State College falls to 9-6 while Williamsport improves to 7-8.

Player of the game

Williamsport pitcher Julian Garcia: The 2016 10th-rounder turned in a solid seven-inning performance, scattering three hits while recording eight strikeouts and three walks. Garcia also surrendered a pair of runs in the third inning. He’s now 2-1 this season with a 1.50 ERA.

Strong start; uneven finish

Spikes pitching: State College starter Anthony Shew allowed just two hits in the first six innings and held the Crosscutters scoreless in that span. He struggled in the seventh, however, once his pitch count hovered near 80. He allowed three hits in the first four at-bats of the inning before he was pulled.

Living up to the hype

First-rounder: The Philadelphia Phillies’ first-round MLB draft pick this season, Williamsport center fielder Adam Haseley, finished the game with two stolen bases, two hits and two runs. He is batting .421 through five games this season.

Next up

Williamsport at State College, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday: State College’s Levi MaVorhis (0-0, 7.11 ERA) is set to make his third start this season against Williamsport’s Luis Carrasco (0-0, 2.00 ERA), who’s holding opponents to a .188 batting average through nine innings of work. MaVorhis has permitted two homers in 6  1/3 innings this year. Williamsport is two games behind State College in the Pinckney Division.

This story was originally published July 4, 2017 at 5:23 PM with the headline "State College Spikes fall after Williamsport’s seventh-inning rally."