The Renegades slugged a season-high 16 hits in their extra inning 6-4 victory over the State College Spikes Thursday night in front 3,347 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
On a night when seven of the nine starters recorded a hit, third baseman Jason Tweedy stole the show going 3-for-6 with a run scored and a RBI. Tweedy’s three-hit night increased his current on-base streak to a team-leading 19 games.
The Renegades gave the starting nod to Chris Andujar (0-1, 7.47). For the second outing in a row Andujar threw a season-high six innings but did not factor into the decision.
Matthew Payne helped the Spikes jump out to an early one-run lead in the home half of the first. Payne started the inning off with a double to right field. Two batters later Payne scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch by Andujar.
The Spikes one-run lead was short lived as the Renegades plated two runs of their own in the top of the second. With runners on first and second Robi Estrada singled to center field allowing the newest addition to the team Justin Renyolds to score from second. Ross advanced to third on Estrada’s single and scored one batter later on a Tweedy single, to give the Renegades a 2-1 lead.
The Renegades plated one run in the fifth to increase their lead to two runs. With Estrada on second John Mollicone greeted the new Spikes pitcher, Alan Knotts, with a single to center field which allowed Estrada to trout home form second.
The Spikes took back their one-run lead by plating three runs in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the seventh the Renegades brought in reliever Thomas Rafferty to take over for starter Andujar. Rafferty lasted .1 innings and allowed three Spikes to cross homeplate. Matt Risser took over for the struggling Rafferty and was able to hold the Spikes hitless for 1.2 innings.
The Renegades knotted the game up at four runs a piece in the visiting half of the eight off the bat of pinch-hitter Jacob Jefferies. With Kyeong Kang on second Jefferies, pinch-hitting for Mark Thomas, singled to center field tying the game up at 4-4.
In the top of the 11 inning with two outs and one runner on Jason Corder sent an Allen Ponder offering deep over the left field fence to propel the Renegades past the Spikes for the ‘Gades third win in a row. The ‘Gades still trail the first place Staten Islands Yankees by two games.
The win improved the Renegades extra innings record to 3-1.
The Renegades look to complete the sweep Friday night against the Spikes with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. The Renegades will be sending right-hander Nick Barnese(1-0, 1.25) to the mound to face off against RHP Maurice Bankston (0-3, 5.28).
