UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Justin Toerner collected three hits across two games, but the State College Spikes dropped both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 7-1 and 6-0 to the Auburn Doubledays on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Toerner followed his seventh multi-hit game of the year in the opener of the twin bill with one of State College’s (19-27) three hits in the second game.
Auburn (25-20) plated three runs in the first inning of the second game to set the tone. Pablo O’Connor knocked in the first run with a single before Jamori Blash brought in two more with a single of his own.
The Doubledays then scored three more in the fifth on a two-run single from Ricardo Mendez and an RBI single from Cody Wilson to complete the scoring.
The Spikes bounced back from a 2-0 deficit in game one to score on Wadye Ynfante’s single in the fourth, but the Doubledays responded with an RBI single from O’Connor in the sixth, then plated four runs in the seventh to put it away.
Auburn used the efforts of Moises Sierra to propel them in front in the first game. Sierra, who played 207 games in the majors for the Blue Jays, White Sox and Nationals, including 27 this year, came down to Auburn (24-20) on a rehab assignment from Triple-A Syracuse. After sending a fly ball to the warning track in the first, Sierra smashed a solo home run deep to left-center field for the Doubledays’ second run in the third inning.
Carson Shaddy’s double in the second brought in the first run of the opener for Auburn.
Edwin Figuera was hit by two pitches in the first contest, extending his New York-Penn League lead in that category as he increased his total to 15 on the season. Brady Whalen added a double in the first game to aid the State College cause.
State College starter Michael Baird (0-2) took the loss in the opener after yielding three runs on six hits and striking out four over five-plus innings. Baird also delivered an intentional walk and held the Doubledays hitless in the opening frame to extend his no-hit string to six innings.
Auburn reliever Gilberto Chu (1-1) picked up the win in game one with two innings of one-run ball, giving up three hits in the game. Chu also recorded two strikeouts and hit a batter. David Smith(5) earned the save with two perfect innings to finish the first game. Smith struck out one batter.
Game two starter Edgar Gonzalez (1-1) received the loss for State College. Gonzalez allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out one batter over 1 2/3 innings.
Angel Guillen (5-1) earned the win for Auburn in the second game. Guillen, making his first start of the season, tossed six shutout innings and gave up three hits and a walk. The right-hander also hit a batter and recorded three strikeouts.
The pair of defeats marked the first time in franchise history the Spikes had ever been swept in a home doubleheader.
Friday, the Spikes and Doubledays tangle in single-game action at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and left-hander Diego Cordero (2-1) gets the ball for State College. Auburn will go with left-hander Jackson Stoekinger (0-1).