In a contest where both offenses clicked, it would be a miraculous eight run forth inning that gave theCutters an emphatic lead they wouldn’t let go of.

“Before the (fourth) inning started, it was the craziest thing,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “I turned to (Pitching Coach) Happy Macon and I said ‘We need eight runs here to get a little breathing room because I don’t have a bullpen tonight. Dang, if we didn’t score eight runs! That was awesome.”

Williamsport starter Brett Antolick would fall out of favor to start the game, loading the bases with no outs on an Andrew Wiggins single, Trent Turner hit by pitch, and a Tyree Reed walk. The Spikes would continue the carousel a batter later with Camden Ross, who drew a full count walk to score Wiggins for the opening run.

CJ Richmond would blow the game open an at-bat later for State College, lacing a two-run single down the left field line for a 3-0 advantage in the top half.

Crosscutters manager Kenny Thomas and hitting coach Sean Miller talk with each other between pitches against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

As they’ve done time and time again all year, the Cutters would respond in the bottom of the second inning with the bottom of the order. In a part of the lineup where four of the five batters were hitting under.200 on the year, two would reach with one out from a Chance Jennings hit by pitch and Kelly Robertson bunt single. Nine-hole hitter George Malone would break the goose egg an at-bat later, grounding out to third allowing Jennings to score.

A calamitous State College mistake would cut the deficit to one an at-bat later. With Robertson at-second, Kyle Schupmann would place a high fly ball to center field. In what should’ve been a routine catch just shy of the warning track, State College centerfielder Andrew Wiggins would lose the ball under the scorching sun allowing it to bounce out of play for a game tying ground rule double.

The Cutters would equalise a batter later with Chris Stanfield, who ripped a double down the left field line to score Schupmann and tie the game after two.

The Crosscutters would officially pounce in front an inning later starting with Ben Tryon, who would rip a triple down the right field line to put the early go-ahead run 90 feet away. Two batters later, the leadoff man would come in to score courtesy of Chance Jennings’ rip double to centerfield for a 4-3 score after three.

But State College would get another fast start going in the fourth inning, loading the bases on no outs with aJ acob Croxford walk and back-to-back singles at the bottom of the order from Justin Journette and Luke Nomura. The Spikes would tie it up a batter later with Andrew Wiggins, whose reach on a fielder’s choice allowed Croxford to score.

Starting pitcher Brett Antolick of the Crosscutters throws in the first inning to the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

After a cheap pop up, the Spikes took the lead on a wild pitch in the next-at bat that scored Jouornette. A Tyree Reed walk would promptly end Antolick’s outing, conceding five runs in four and two thirds of an innings with five hits, five walks, and two strikeouts.

“It was funny,” echoed Thomas. “When I went out to take Antolick out, I heard fans hollering behind me ‘It’s about time! It’s a little too late,’ and I’m like ‘If only you knew!.'”

In what became the theme of the night, the Cutters would burst back in front in the bottom half of the frame. When a leadoff error allowed George Malone to reach safely, the Cutters would use the momentum toload the bases on back to back singles from Kyle Schupmann and Chris Stanfield.

Brodey Acres would come to the plate next and make no nonsense of it, uncorking a single off the left field wall to bring two runners in and regain the lead for Williamsport.

The Acres single would become the third of seven straight base hits in the inning for Williamsport. By the time they batted around back to George Malone, five runs came across the plate with the bases still juiced and just one out.

Kelly Robertson of the Crosscutters reaches base on a fielders choice in the 4th inning against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Not one to stop the trend, Malone and Schupmann would both reach base on singles thereafter,scoring a combined three more runs to make it an astonishing 12-5 Williamsport lead.

State College would trim the deficit in the top of the sixth with Camden Ross, whose sacrifice flyout scored Turner to cut the lead to six.

Williamsport’s scheduled bottom-half response would be a two-run burst, with a second George Malone RBI groundout and a Chris Stanfield stand up double that made it 16-6 Cutters.

State College would not melt in the heat, putting in back-to-back two-run innings across the seventh and eighth frame before closer Dallis Moran put a late comeback to rest with a seamless one-two-three ninth inning.

The win moved Williamsport to 18-7 on the season, placing them at the top of the MLB Draft League for the first time this season after Trenton lost to Aberdeen 7-1. The Cutters will look to keep the pennant chase alive Friday, where they travel to take on the Spikes at State College before another home game at Williamsport this Saturday.

Ben Tryon of the Crosscutters scores during the 4th against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“These last three games are going to be tough,” admitted Thomas. “All we can do is take care ofourselves and not worry about Trenton.”

Chance Jennings of the Crosscutters slaps hands with hitting coach Sean Miller after hitting a triple in the third inning against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chance Jennings of the Crosscutters is tagged out in a run down in the third inning by Luke Nomura of the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chris Stanfield of the Crosscutters rounds second base on a double by Brodey Acres in the first inning against the Spikes at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette