Courtesy of State College Spikes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Led by Alec Sparks’ six strong innings, the State College Spikes held the Frederick Keys to six hits in a 4-0 shutout win on Monday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Sparks (1-0) allowed four hits and three walks but pitched his way out of trouble at every turn to record his first victory with the Spikes (8-10 2^nd Half). The right-hander out of Nicholls State struck out five batters and stranded a total of seven runners in his time on the mound.

Dylan Cheeley followed by yielding one hit and one walk while striking out two batters over two innings. Jason Shockley locked down the win by striking out the side in a one-hit ninth.

State College took the lead on Jaden Collura’s sacrifice fly to bring in Adonis Forte in the third, with Chenar Brown following with a two-out, two-strike single to right that brought in Cole Caruso.

Conor Higgs then knocked in a run in the fourth with a bases-loaded fielder’s choice to score Dan Taukenbefore Forte completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home T.J. Salvaggio in the same frame.

Frederick (7-12 2^nd Half) starter Paul Panduro (2-3) also tossed six innings but took the loss. Panduro gave up all four Spikes runs on seven hits and a hit batsman while notching three strikeouts.

Forte went 2-for-3 at the plate to extend his hitting streak to six games.

Tuesday, the Spikes finish their two-game series against the Keys as they continue their seven-game homestand at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 6:35 p.m. matchup. Left-hander Michael Quevedo (1-0) gets the ball for State College, while right-hander Joshua Lanham (0-0) is slated to go for Frederick.

It’s a Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends with half-price Walking Tacos at the Salsa concession stand in right field throughout the game.

Additional highlights of the homestand include Bark in the Park III and Yellowstone Night featuring a Yellowstone Jersey-off-the-Back Auction presented by PSECU benefiting Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital on Friday, August 8, FIREWORKS presented by College Township as part of College Township Community Night on Saturday, August 9, and the Katie Schumacher-Cawley Bobblehead Giveaway & Appearance presented by Happy Valley Live along with Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State Night on Sunday, August 10.

It all leads to the 2025 MLB Draft League Championship Game on Thursday, September 4 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, featuring the Spikes taking on the MLB Draft League second half champions for the overall crown.