Offense Falls Silent In Loss

Williamsport, P.A.- The Williamsport Crosscutters were held scoreless for the first time in 2017, suffering a 9-0 loss at the hands of in-state rival, State College.

The Spikes used an RBI single from Tyler Lancaster in the top of the 2nd inning to get on the board against Cutters starter Andrew Brown, giving State College a 1-0 lead.

Branden Benson added on to the State College lead with a RBI single of his own in the top of the 3rdinning, giving the Spikes a 2-0 lead.

Brown settled in for Williamsport, not allowing a run over the next two innings of work, attempting to keep the Crosscutters in the ball game. The right-hander finished the night allowing two runs, both earned on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five.

Despite Brown’s efforts, Williamsport would not be able to get a run across while he was on the bump, leaving the bases loaded in each of the 4th and 5th innings, trailing 2-0 after five innings.

Jhon Nunez replaced Brown to start the 6th inning, and the Spikes would welcome the right handed reliever by plating a pair of runs thanks to a Zack Kirtley RBI single and a Edwin Figuera sacrifice fly to make it 4-0 Spikes lead.

State College added one more run against Nunez in the top of the 7th inning, getting a RBI triple from Benson, giving the Spikes a 5-0 lead after seven innings.

Connor Brogdon entered in the top of the 8th inning, setting down the Spikes in order for the first time all night, striking out a pair of State College hitters.

In the 9th, Brogdon did not fare as well, seeing the first three batters of the frame reach on singles to load the bases for Brandon Benson. Benson worked a 3-1 count against Brogdon, sending the offering over wall in left for a grand slam, giving the Spikes a 9-0 lead.

For Benson, it gave him his sixth RBI of the night, setting a new single game State College Spikes record.

Nick Maton tried to provide a late inning spark, doubling in the bottom of the ninth for the Cutters only extra base hit. That would prove ineffective as he was stranded at 2nd base.

Williamsport welcomes in the Mahoning Valley Scrappers tomorrow evening, as they start their first three-game series of the season. Gustavo Armas is scheduled to take the hill, in search of his first win of 2017. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. At BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.

Cutter Carvings – Greg Pickett was scratched from the starting line up before the game… The nine run loss is the worst for Williamsport this season… Williamsport falls to 3-2 against State College this season, 1-2 at home…Only the 2nd time this season the Cutters failed to record multiple extra base hits in a game…