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Trenton Thunder fall to Spikes despite early strong pitching

June 26, 2024

After dropping two of three against West Virginia, the Trenton Thunder were back in action Tuesday night at home as they greeted a sellout crowd at Trenton Thunder Ballpark to start a three-game set against the State College Spikes. To get things started, the Thunder would turn to Nebraska right-hander Drew Christo to take the mound against Louisiana State right-hander Fidel Ulloa.

Christo was dominant in starting the proceedings. He struck out the side with no trouble and had a near-immaculate inning. Ulloa, however, matched his strikeout for a strikeout in the opening inning.

It was a clear pitcher's duel throughout the opening frames. With every strikeout Christo threw for the Trenton Thunder, Ulloa was able to match it, and there was more for the Spikes. The Spikes would strike first as Samuel Benjamin would line a single to center field to score Knox Preston, who had walked on the previous at-bat, giving the Spikes an early 1-0 advantage. A double steal would then plate a second run in the inning for the Spikes as Hayden Moore would score before Cade Climie would be called out on strikes to end the top of the second.

Christo was pulled after three solid innings of work on the mound, allowing two runs on one hit, punching out seven, and issuing two free passes. Andrew Rogovic would be the first Thunder pitcher called upon in relief, and with two outs in the inning, he would give up a run-scoring pop-up single to center to widen the Spikes' lead to 3-0.

Ulloa would go four innings for the Spikes, pitching a one-hit shutout, striking out seven, and not walking a batter.

Things would not improve for the Trenton Thunder in the top of the sixth as Tyson Bass would make a leadoff double burn the Thunder, scoring Jake Mummau to make it a 4-0 Spikes lead off of reliever Cade Udell. A wild pitch later in the inning would only exacerbate the issue for the Thunder.

The Trenton Thunder would pick up two in the home half of the sixth - first off of a Colton Becker RBI double, then a wild pitch from State College reliever Sam Swygert. However, the State College bullpen would show its dominance from there on as they would keep the Thunder off the scoreboard the rest of the way, sealing the 5-2 win for the Spikes in the opener of this series.

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The Road Ahead

The Trenton Thunder will be back at it Wednesday and Thursday night, continuing the three-game set against the State College Spikes at home before hitting the road to take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for a three-game weekend series starting Friday night. Game time for both nights is 7 p.m.