Hurst nets three hits, but Spikes fall to Auburn

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Scott Hurst notched the first three-hit game of his professional career, but a late home run gave the State College Spikes a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Auburn Doubledays on Saturday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Hurst, the St. Louis Cardinals' third-round draft choice out of Cal State-Fullerton, also scored the Spikes' (11-8) first run to tie game in the sixth after a double to left-center field.
However, Zach Collier 's two-run homer to center in the seventh gave the Doubledays (6-13) a two-run lead. Edwin Figuera doubled home a run in the bottom of the same frame to draw the Spikes within one, but they would get no closer.
Auburn opened the scoring in the third inning when an error scored Collier before Bryce Denton scored Hurst with a single to plate the tying run for the Spikes.
The game was delayed one hour, 41 minutes by rain in the top of the fifth inning.
Figuera, Denton and Caleb Lopes all put together multi-hit games for State College as well.
State College starter Jonathon Mulford went 4 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out six batters.
Reliever Robbie Gordon (0-1) took the loss after giving up two hits, including Collier's homer, and striking out three batters over 2 1/3 innings.
David Smith (1-1) picked up the win for Auburn with three innings of relief in which he gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. Smith also struck out two batters.
Jake Barnett (1) earned the save by finishing the game with two scoreless, two-hit innings. Barnett also recorded two strikeouts.
Sunday, the Spikes and Doubledays finish their three-game set with a 6:05 p.m. rubber match at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send right-hander Paul Balestrieri (0-0) to the mound for his second start and fourth appearance of the year. Auburn will go with right-hander Matt DeRosier (1-1).
It's one of the best nights of the season as we pay homage to those men and women who have served and continue to serve our country on Military Appreciation Night, presented by Lion Country Kia. Fans can join the Spikes in a variety of tributes throughout the 6:05 p.m. game, with military vehicles also on hand to see and touch.
In addition, fans can place their bids in a Patriotic Hat Auction benefiting Local Military Personnel presented by Lion Country Kia. The Spikes have autographed the special patriotic hats they wore on July 3, and each hat is up for bids to help those who have ensured our freedoms. After the game, the skies will light up with a Spike-tacular FIREWORKS show.
Sunday is also WHVL Day at the Ballpark, as the first 500 fans receive Spikes Koozies presented by WHVL-TV. WHVL-TV will also broadcast Sunday's game live with Steve Jones and Greg Campbell on the call.
Tickets for Sunday's game, as well as every game on the Spikes' 2017 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 5:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, Newsradio 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.
Spikes fans can also catch home games in 2017 even when outside Central PA thanks to MiLB.TV to stream all games online to paid subscribers of the service. MiLB.TV offers fans the chance to follow the game's future stars across Minor League Baseball, with more than 5,000 games streamed live, including affiliates of all 30 MLB teams, and complete game archives available on demand. Fans can use the promo code "SPIKES" to save $10 on the regular yearly price.

Hurst, the St. Louis Cardinals' third-round draft choice out of Cal State-Fullerton, also scored the Spikes' (11-8) first run to tie game in the sixth after a double to left-center field.
However, Zach Collier 's two-run homer to center in the seventh gave the Doubledays (6-13) a two-run lead. Edwin Figuera doubled home a run in the bottom of the same frame to draw the Spikes within one, but they would get no closer.
Auburn opened the scoring in the third inning when an error scored Collier before Bryce Denton scored Hurst with a single to plate the tying run for the Spikes.
The game was delayed one hour, 41 minutes by rain in the top of the fifth inning.
Figuera, Denton and Caleb Lopes all put together multi-hit games for State College as well.
State College starter Jonathon Mulford went 4 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out six batters.
Reliever Robbie Gordon (0-1) took the loss after giving up two hits, including Collier's homer, and striking out three batters over 2 1/3 innings.
David Smith (1-1) picked up the win for Auburn with three innings of relief in which he gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. Smith also struck out two batters.
Jake Barnett (1) earned the save by finishing the game with two scoreless, two-hit innings. Barnett also recorded two strikeouts.
Sunday, the Spikes and Doubledays finish their three-game set with a 6:05 p.m. rubber match at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College will send right-hander Paul Balestrieri (0-0) to the mound for his second start and fourth appearance of the year. Auburn will go with right-hander Matt DeRosier (1-1).
It's one of the best nights of the season as we pay homage to those men and women who have served and continue to serve our country on Military Appreciation Night, presented by Lion Country Kia. Fans can join the Spikes in a variety of tributes throughout the 6:05 p.m. game, with military vehicles also on hand to see and touch.
In addition, fans can place their bids in a Patriotic Hat Auction benefiting Local Military Personnel presented by Lion Country Kia. The Spikes have autographed the special patriotic hats they wore on July 3, and each hat is up for bids to help those who have ensured our freedoms. After the game, the skies will light up with a Spike-tacular FIREWORKS show.
Sunday is also WHVL Day at the Ballpark, as the first 500 fans receive Spikes Koozies presented by WHVL-TV. WHVL-TV will also broadcast Sunday's game live with Steve Jones and Greg Campbell on the call.
Tickets for Sunday's game, as well as every game on the Spikes' 2017 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action on Sunday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 5:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, Newsradio 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.
Spikes fans can also catch home games in 2017 even when outside Central PA thanks to MiLB.TV to stream all games online to paid subscribers of the service. MiLB.TV offers fans the chance to follow the game's future stars across Minor League Baseball, with more than 5,000 games streamed live, including affiliates of all 30 MLB teams, and complete game archives available on demand. Fans can use the promo code "SPIKES" to save $10 on the regular yearly price.