UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Daniel Castano matched the State College Spikes’ single-game strikeout record with 10 whiffs over seven innings, and the Spikes’ bats bolstered the effort in an 8-2 victory over the Batavia Muckdogs on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Castano (3-0) ended the outing in style by striking out the side in order in the seventh to tie Will Anderson , Fernando Baez and Juan Perez in the Spikes (8-4) record book. The southpaw allowed two runs, one of them earned, on seven hits. Castano did not walk a batter on the night, and has now struck out 25 batters and walked just two over 21 innings this season.
The lefty was handed a big lead to start the game when State College scored four runs in the first inning and three in the second. Josh Lopez finished off the early burst with his third homer of the year, a two-run shot to the bleachers in right field in the second. Lopez spearheaded the Spikes’ attack with three hits, and improved his batting average to a New York-Penn League-leading .548.
Evan Mendoza and Matt Davis also helped State College as each contributed two hits, including a double. Mendoza and Davis drove in two runs apiece as well.
Scott Hurst, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2017 third-round draft choice out of Cal-State Fullerton, notched his first professional hit with a leadoff double in the first.
The win stretched the Spikes’ home winning streak to six consecutive games. State College has now outscored the opposition 29-13 over the last four games.
Batavia (5-7) starter Manny Rodriguez (1-1) took the loss after giving up the first seven Spikes runs on seven hits and a hit batsman over 2 2/3 innings.
The Spikes and Muckdogs meet again on Sunday evening for the second game of a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send right-hander Jonathon Mulford (0-2) to the mound for the 6:05 p.m. matchup. Mulford will be opposed by Batavia right-hander Sam Perez (0-0).
