Full moons bring about strange events, like State College Spikes shortstop Willian Sandoval going from potential goat to eventual hero in one-third of an inning.

Spikes infielder Allen Craig's RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth scored Nathan Southard from third as State College defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 3-2.

"It's just concentration and the desire to win," Craig said. "We don't want to be known as the team that doesn't come back. We've been giving effort, and it's been working out for us."

Sandoval's legs made sure that the Spikes reputation was safe for a least one more night.

Sandoval had struck out his first three times up against Scrappers starter Luis Valdez, but that was before the strange ninth began.

The series of events that ended the game started in the Scrappers half of the ninth as Sandoval's speed allowed him to cut off a ground ball up the middle. He smartly stepped on second for the force and made the throw over to first base in time to get Spikes reliever P.J. Walters out of a one-out jam.

Sandoval then led off the home half of the ninth with a single. Two stolen bases and a Southard triple later, and the Spikes had crawled back to tie the game at 2-2. Craig then sent a 1-2 pitch from Mahoning Valley's closer Matt Meyer to right center to win the game.

"Sandoval's started a few of those innings off for us," Craig said about the team's recent string of comeback wins. "It really worked out for us having his speed up front and him getting some base hits."

The win was the biggest of the season for the Spikes. It was State College's fourth win in their last six games and not only moved them within 2.5 games of the first-place Scrappers but also marked the first time the Spikes had won a series at home all season.

A loss would've put State College 4.5 games out of first place with less than a month left in the season, so with the schedule the Spikes have coming up -- six games against Williamsport (16-30) and Vermont (17-31) -- this would be the time to make a move on the division.

And the way they've played lately, they should be in the thick of things come September -- if they don't lose any more players to promotion.

"Our play at home has been a little better lately," Spikes manager Mark DeJohn said. "I was just happy that we took a series."

Spikes Notes

Closer Jason Motte was unavailable to pitch last night because he was promoted to The Swing of the Quad Cities... Right hander Ashley Hooks was demoted from Quad Cities to replace Motte on the Spikes roster. Hooks had a 5.60 ERA in four months in the Midwest League... Rehabbing shortstop Brendan Ryan sat for the second straight game with back spasms.