Williamsport Crosscutters top State College Spikes

State College Spikes starting pitcher Anthony Ciavarella immediately ran into trouble in a 6-3 loss to the Williamsport Crosscutters on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Ciavarella walked Williamsport’s first two hitters, allowed two runs in the first inning and then gave up a pair of RBI doubles during his three-inning outing. In his first start of the season, the left-hander allowed four runs and six hits while striking out four and walking three to take the loss for the Spikes (9-7).

It was the Spikes’ third straight loss following the team’s five-game winning streak.

Ciavarella allowed two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Adam Haseley and a sacrifice fly by Greg Pickett.

Pickett’s RBI double in the third inning gave the Crosscutters (8-8) a 3-2 lead, and Colby Fitch’s RBI double in the fourth made it 4-3 Williamsport. Fitch’s double also ended Ciavarella’s outing, which was his fourth appearance for State College.

Player of the game

Crosscutters catcher Rodolfo Duran: Duran went 3 for 4 with a triple Wednesday night. Duran’s two-run triple to right-center field in the top of the eighth inning gave Williamsport a 6-3 lead.

Highlights

Web gems: Spikes right fielder Ricardo Bautista made a pair of highlight-reel plays Wednesday night. In the first inning, Bautista made a leaping grab at the right field wall on a shot by Pickett. Bautista then caught a fly ball in the fourth inning and gunned down Williamsport’s Fitch at third base for a double play.

At the plate: Scott Hurst went 2 for 5 and scored once to pace the Spikes offensively. State College’s Evan Mendoza went 1 for 3 with a double and scored twice.

Roster notes

New additions: The Spikes added infielders Imeldo Diaz and Stanley Espinal to the roster Wednesday. The Boston Red Sox traded Diaz and Espinal to the Cardinals on Sunday to create international signing bonus cap space. They both join the Spikes after playing for Boston’s New York-Penn League affiliate Lowell Spinners. In seven games, Diaz hit .208 and Espinal hit .185.

Next up

State College at Williamsport, 7:05 p.m. Thursday: The Spikes close out their series against the Crosscutters at Bowman Field. Right-hander Sam Tewes (0-2, 6.89 ERA) will be on the mound for the Spikes, while left-hander Kyle Young (2-0, 2.03) is set to start for Williamsport.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Williamsport Crosscutters top State College Spikes."