Cutters blank Spikes in pitchers' duel

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Published: July 30, 2010

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The Williamsport Crosscutters and State College Spikes were both hitless through six innings, but a two-error seventh inning by the Spikes allowed Jeff Lanning to score the only run of the game in a 1-0 Cutters' victory Thursday night at Historic Bowman Field.

Lanning led off the seventh inning with a five-pitch walk, and advanced to second on an Aaron Altherr sacrifice bunt. Jeff Cusick's hard groundball to short ricocheted of the chest of Gift Ngoepe for an error, allowing Lanning to go to third with one out. The next batter, Carlos Alonso, hit a chopper that second baseman Walker Gourley booted, enabling Lanning to score the winning run without the assistance of a base hit.

The Cutters' first hit didn't come until Edgar Duran reached on an infield single to lead off the eighth before getting picked off. Miguel Alvarez also tripled in the inning to give the Cutters a total of two base hits for the game.

Mario Hollands pitched five innings for the Cutters without allowing a hit. He walked two and struck out five, extending his scoreless innings streak to 16.

Bradley Blanks pitched two innings, and surrendered both of the Spikes base hits in the top of the seventh, but picked his first professional victory.

Chase Johnson closed out the final two innings without allowing a hit. He struck out four, including Pat Irvine to end the game, and earn his league-leading 10th save.

With the victory the Cutters remain in first place of the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League with a record of 24-16. They face the Spikes Friday night, before heading to Mahoning Valley for two games against the Scrappers.

The Cutters return to Bowman on Monday to face the Auburn Doubledays to start a five-game homestand. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Every Cutters game can be heard on ESPN Radio 104.1FM, ESPN 1050AM, or online at crosscutters.com.

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