The State College Spikes’ first five hitters reached base to spark a decisive first inning Thursday night.
Tommy Edman led off with a triple to right field, Andy Young was hit by a pitch and Vince Jackson singled to right field to drive in the first run. Another run scored when Ryan McCarvel reached on a fielding error, and Jeremy Martinez doubled to push the lead to three runs.
The Spikes scored again before the inning was over and went on to beat the Doubledays 5-3 at Falcon Park.
State College (32-14) is now on a five-game winning streak for the third time this season. The Spikes’ longest win streak lasted six games in June.
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Spikes starting pitcher Bryan Dobzanski allowed two runs and four hits in six innings to earn the win.
State College provided plenty of run support before he threw his first pitch, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first.
Auburn pitcher Weston Davis recovered to throw four scoreless innings to finish his start.
But the Doubledays (19-27) couldn’t close the gap.
Auburn got on the board in the bottom of the third after Andres Martinez started the inning with a triple and scored on a groundout. The Spikes regained their four-run advantage on an RBI groundout by Edman in the sixth.
The Doubledays pulled within 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth.
But after Sheldon Neuse’s solo home run to start the eighth, Spikes relievers Spencer Trayner and Brady Bowen retired six straight Auburn hitters to clinch the win.
Bowen earned his fifth save of the season.
The Spikes finish their series at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Auburn.
Relief pitcher Bob Wheatley was promoted to Single-A Peoria on Thursday. Wheatley went 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA in nine appearances for State College.
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