For the first time since game one in the series, State College would take the lead to start the ballgame against Williamsport ace Zachary Murray. State College’s lead off batter Brock Wills would get things started with a single, and quickly stole second to get in scoring position.

A Tyson Bass groundout would allow Wills to take third with two outs. On a 2-2 count, Murray tossed a curveball that went off the chest protector of catcher Zane Becker, bouncing the ball up in the air. Becker would lose sight of it, and by the time Becker retrieved the ball behind him, Wills was already sliding safely to give State College a 1-0 lead.

One would become two in the top of the second, when leadoff hitter Robert Hipwell launched a sinker high in the air and over the wall at left center. Hipwell’s first home run of the season for the Spike’s would make it 2-0 after two.

Williamsport’s first against State College starter Jaxon Dalena would come in the third on a leadoff single from Anthony Stephan. Stephan, thanks to heads up baserunning, would take second on a flyout which saw nobody cover the bag. With two outs and Stephen in scoring position. Riley Nelson would slap a single just beyond the diving glove of second baseman Brock Wills, scoring Stephan and halving the lead.

Zachary Murray of the Crosscutters tries to grab a come back hit by Brock Wells of State College in the first inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. Wells was safe at first on the play. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dalena would close out the third before being relieved in the fourth. In total, the Montoursville graduate finished with one strikeout, allowing one run, three hits, and three walks in the process.

Williamsport would quickly attack against reliever Jalen Warwick, with a Jackson Mayo single and stolen base putting the tying run in scoring position. Mayo would advance to third on a controversial groundout, followed by a full count walk to Cole Russo which placed runners at the corners for Anthony Stephen.

The nine hole hitter would come through once more, slapping a single to right field that scored Mayo, put runners at the corners once more, and tied the game at 2-2.

A Carter Dorighi walk would load the bases for Max Mandler, who would come back from an 0-2 count to tap a single up the middle. The base hit from Mandler scored two and gave the Cutters a 4-2 lead. The lead would keep growing for the Cutters with Riley Nelson at the plate next. Nelson would crack an agonizing grounder to the right side and past the infield for an RBI single that scored Dorighi.

Two pitches later, Williamsport would have another run after a Warwick wild pitch scored Mandler and advanced Nelson to third. It would soon become a cacophony of errors for State College with Erik Rataczak at the plate. Jacob Corson would line out to short, provoking an opportunistic Jake Mummau to throw to first in an attempt to get Eric Rataczak out, who had just walked in the previous at bat.

Zachary Murray of the Crosscutters throws in the first inning against State College at Journey Bank Ballpark in the season's first half. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Instead, the ball would sail out of play and into the bleachers, allowing Nelson to score from third. The rally would be complete courtesy of Jackson Mayo, who would get his second hit of the inning up the middle to score Rataczak and give the Cutters an 8-2 lead.

As the Spikes collapsed, Williamsport starter Zachary Murray kept a composed start through five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk while tossing seven strikeouts. Murray’s fifth win of the season also leads the MLB Draft League, with just one other pitcher recording four wins.

State College would lie in the top of the seventh against reliever Nate Ward, with the bottom of the order in Manny Jackson, AJ Salgado, and Knox Preston reaching with one out.

In what would be an at bat symbolic of the night, Brock Wills would bloop what looked to be a borderline fair ball that would’ve scored two. Instead, the ball was called foul. Two pitches later, Wills would line one right to first baseman Riley Nelson, who would make the catch and step on the first base bag for an inning ending double play.

State College would find a consolation in the eighth against Gray Thomas, when Hayden Moore was hit by a pitch. Moore, in what was a unique circumstance, would take second, third, and home on three separate wild pitches to make it 8-3.

Jacob Corson of the Crosscutters is caught stealing at second base by Brock Wills of State College at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Spikes would make it interesting in the ninth against Jimmy Romano, with two walks and a single loading the bases for Brock Wills. The leadoff man would provide a spark, smacking a two run single to right field to make it 8-5. Two force outs at second and a run scored later, and the score was 8-6 with Tyson Bass at first and the tying run in Cam Bufford at the plate.

But Romano would get the last laugh, striking out Bufford on five pitches allowing the Cutters to hold on for the win.

The win improves Williamsport to a remarkable 17-7 on the season, increasing their lead at the top of the standings by four and a half games with seven left to play in the first half campaign.

Williamsport will go on a mini road trip this weekend, traveling to Mahoning Valley for a two-game set that begins Saturday.

First baseman Riley Nelson of the Crosscutters catches a pop fly hit by Tyson Bass of State College during the second inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Zachary Murray of the Crosscutters pumps his fist after getting out of the second inning against State College at Journey Bank Ballpark late in the season's first half. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Riley Nelson of the Crosscutters connects on a double in the 6th inning against State College at Journey Bank Ballpark. The Cutters won 8-6. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette