“You know, baseball is a funny game,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “We got four hits, they got 10, and we won the ballgame.”

Slap hitting would give the Spikes the first run of the ballgame in the first inning, starting with a one out, 86 miles per hour exit velocity single by Harrison Didawick. The consistent runner would swipe second with two outs and Landen Johnson at the plate. Another prolific hitter, Johnson would get Didawick in on a bloop, good 64 mile per hour single to shallow center for the opening run of the game.

But in need of a burst, Williamsport would find it with an Armani Newton hit by pitch and Taeg Gollert double putting two in scoring position with one out. Coming off of last night’s game that saw the Cutters go 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position, both would eventually score on a Jack Lausch sacrifice fly and a Matthew Bardowell RBI single to put the Cutters ahead after one.

But State College would strike back in the top of the third, with a lead off Merik Carter single and Landen Johnson walk putting two on. A sacrifice bunt would put the pair in scoring position with two outs for Ryan Rivera, who would record his third and fourth RBI on the season with a slap single to right field for a 3-2 Spikes lead.

Joey Spence of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Camden Ross of the Spikes at first base during the third inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Cutters would equalize in the bottom half of the frame thanks to Carlos Castillo. The leadoff man would go to first with a walk, and move two bases on one pitch when a steal attempt led to an overthrown ball, allowing Castillo to go to third. He would score an at-bat later, crossing the plate on an Armani Newton groundout.

But for the fourth time early on, another lead change saw State College back up with a pair of Javon Hernandez and Harrison Didawick singles. The pair would execute a double steal, State College’s fourth and fifth steal early on, to get in scoring position for Merik Carter. Carter would get his first RBI as a Spike at the plate, grounding out to bring home Hernandez to make it 4-3 State College.

Williamsport starter Bailey Matela would round out the fourth before being brought in, finishing with four earned runs and eight hits allowed while tossing six strikeouts.

State College starter Roman Kimball’s evening would end a batter into the fifth after conceding a walk. Kimball would have a decent shift on the hill, pitching four innings while allowing two earned runs, one unearned, while tossing six strikeouts.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Williamsport would even the score in the bottom of the stretch after a Carlos Castillo walk and Armani Newton hit by pitch put two on. A double steal, the first of the season for Williamsport, put the pair in scoring position against reliever Aidan Lee.

Armani Newton of the Williamsport Crosscutters is safe at second base on the steal during the first inning as Caden Shapiro of the Spikes covers the bag at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Trying to beat the pitch clock, Lee wasn’t able to establish a set position before heaving to Jack Lausch, prompting a balk that scored Castillo and tied the game. Lausch would draw a walk to set up Matthew Bardowell. With the crowd ready to pop, they would do so like champagne when Bardowell blooped a single to center that cleared the bases and gave Billtown a 6-4 lead after seven.

But State College wouldn’t go down quietly, and would cut the lead in half with an RBI triple by Dylan Lapointe, his six RBIs of the season.

But it wouldn’t be enough for another lead change, with closer Jed Boyle coming into the ninth to deliver a 1-2-3 inning for his league high third save of the season and a dramatic win in the rubber match.

“He’s just a competitor,” echoed Thomas. “The guy just competes, and he did that again tonight.”

The victory moves Williamsport to 11-6 on the season, crucially keeping their first place spot in the MLB Draft League. Williamsport will have a weekend road trip next with the Cutters taking on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in a three-game series.

Matt Ilgenfritz of the Williamsport Crosscutters tries to field a ball hit by Merik Carter of the Spikes during the top of the third inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Armani Newton of the Williamsport Crosscutters scores in the first inning against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Dylan Lapointe of the Spikes during the 6th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters tries to avoid the tag by Landen Johnson of the Spikes during the 5th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette The Williamsport Crosscutters' Armani Newton steals second during a game on Thursday against State College at Bowman Field.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Williamsport's Taeg Gollert connects on a first-inning single against State College on Thursday at Bowman Field.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Matthew Bardowell of Williamsport connected on a first-inning single against State College on Thursday at Bowman Field.