BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Jonathon Mulford’s six strong innings on the hill combined with timely hitting to give the State College Spikes their third straight win with a 4-3 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday night at MCU Park.
(Photo: Jonathon Mulford. Photo courtesy of State College Spikes)
Mulford (1-2), a native of Massapequa on nearby Long Island, earned his first victory for the Spikes (14-10) by allowing two runs on five hits and three walks. The right-hander also recorded six strikeouts and threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes.
Josh Lopez, who went 2-for-5 on the night, gave State College the lead in the third with an RBI single, and Matt Davis scored on an ensuing wild pitch to make it 2-0, Spikes.
Stanley Espinal’s run-scoring groundout in the fifth extended the lead to three runs, but the Cyclones (6-18) put together their biggest threat in the bottom of the inning. Walter Rasquin extended his hitting streak to a New York-Penn League-leading 14 games with an RBI double, and Brooklyn then loaded the bases with one out.
After a strikeout, Quinn Brodey’s walk drew the Cyclones within one. However, Mulford elicited a fielder’s choice to end the frame and keep it 3-2.
Scott Hurst doubled in the ninth to give the Spikes an insurance run, and while Brooklyn scored on an error in the bottom half, Noel Gonzalez (2) nailed down the win with two strikeouts in the inning.
Cyclones starter Martin Anderson (0-1) got the ball after a late switch, and took the loss. Anderson gave up two runs on four hits, three walks and two hit batsmen over four innings of work. The left-hander struck out four batters in the effort.
The game was delayed 37 minutes by rain just prior to the start of the seventh inning.
Saturday, the Spikes head back to MCU Park for the middle game of their three-game series with the Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets). Left-hander Andrew Summerville (0-0) gets the ball for State College in his first professional start. Brooklyn will send right-hander Michael Gibbons (0-1) to the mound. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
Following the weekend set against Brooklyn and a pair of road games on Monday and Tuesday of next week at the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies), the Spikes come back home on Wednesday for a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Crosscutters. Fans will enjoy the nationally acclaimed Salute to Conspiracy Theories Night, with the Spikes donning special Conspiracy Theory Themed Jerseys that will be up for bids in a Jersey-off-the-Back Auction presented by PSECU to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.
