UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Edwin Figuera produced his 13th multi-hit game of the 2018 season for the State College Spikes, but the Auburn Doubledays broke open a pitcher’s duel with a three-run seventh inning to top the Spikes, 4-0, on Friday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
(Photo courtesy of State College Spikes)
Figuera collected two of the three State College (13-21) hits on the evening with singles in the first and seventh.
Fans were also treated to a special appearance from LaVar Arrington, who threw out a ceremonial first pitch and handed out Kono Pizza Pizza Kones in the Pizza Scream before signing autographs throughout the evening.
Spikes starter Jim Voyles (2-3) allowed just one run on three hits over his first six innings on the mound. Jacob Rhinesmith tripled to start the second and scored on Jamori Blash’s sacrifice fly to left to score the only run of the first six innings.
After Voyles gave up back-to-back singles to begin the seventh, he was replaced by Gabe Gentner, who yielded a single to Ricardo Mendez before a wild pitch to score a run. Cole Daily then singled in two runs to complete the scoring.
Voyles took the loss after being charged with a total of three runs on five hits while striking out four over six innings.
Auburn (18-15) starter Aaron Fletcher allowed one hit and one walk over three innings before giving way to a scoreless fourth from Colin Morse.
Angel Guillen (3-1) then finished the game with five shutout innings in which he yielded two hits and recorded four strikeouts for the win.
Victor Robles, rated by MLBPipeline.com as the top prospect in the Washington Nationals organization, played the first game of his rehab assignment with Auburn and went 1-for-4 with two putouts.
The Spikes hit into a season-high four double plays during the game.
Saturday, the Spikes meet the Doubledays in the middle game of their three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature a battle of southpaws as left-hander Jake Dahlberg (0-2) goes for State College against Auburn left-hander Jackson Stoeckinger (0-1).
