STATE COLLEGE PA – The State College Spikes put on a commanding display at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Friday Night, overwhelming the West Virginia Black Bears with a resounding 13-3 victory, punctuated by a remarkable seven-run outburst in the fourth inning.
The Spikes wasted no time seizing control in the opening frame. Cole Caruso ignited the offense with a sharp triple to right field, bringing home Gavin Lewis Jr. and Jakobi Davis. Moments later, Trotter Boston laced a double to right, driving in Caruso and capping a quick 3-0 lead.
The momentum continued in the third inning. Boston showcased his speed with a triple to center and scored on a single from Chenar Brown. Dan Tauken kept the rally going with a single to center, allowing Brown to cross the plate and extend the advantage to 5-0.
The Black Bears mounted a brief response in the top of the fourth. Drew Collins singled, then stole second and third. With two outs, Alex Rodgers reached on a throwing error by Caruso, which allowed both Kyle Ratliff and Collins to score, trimming the margin to 5-2.
State College responded emphatically in the bottom half. Singles from Jakobi Davis, Caruso, and James Oman set the table, with Davis and Caruso both scoring. The fireworks continued as Dan Tauken crushed a massive home run to center, clearing the bases for himself, Brown, and Oman to make it 10-2. The Spikes’ relentless attack didn’t stop there—Manny Jackson doubled, and Adonis Forte singled him home. Finally, Davis added another RBI single, bringing in Forte and closing the explosive inning at 12-2.
The Black Bears managed a final run in the fifth when Collins singled to bring in Cole Parker, but that would be the end of their scoring.
The Spikes tacked on their 13th run in the seventh as Tauken singled, driving in Brown. The remainder of the game saw a flurry of pitching changes and defensive swaps as State College efficiently closed out the contest.
The Spikes’ offense was relentless, tallying 19 hits, with contributions from nearly every bat in the lineup. On the mound, Ahmad Harajli earned the win, tossing five strong innings and finishing with a 3.00 ERA.
With this dominant performance behind them, the Spikes look ahead to a weekend road series in Trenton, New Jersey, where they will face the Trenton Thunder on Saturday and Sunday.
