The Mahoning Valley Scrappers began the second half of their season in grand fashion and in front of a grand crowd at Eastwood Field.

Thanks to a ticket giveaway sponsored by 7-17 Credit Union, the Scrappers attracted 7,869 fans Thursday in their game against State College — the largest crowd in Eastwood Field history, Thanks in large part to a grand slam by leadoff hitter Kota Suzuki, the Scrappers responded with a 16-8 win over the Spikes.

The Scrappers and Spikes traded runs through the first four innings. The Scrappers took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Drey Dirksen groundout which scored Blake McCrae. After State College tied the game at 1-1 in the second on an Austin Baal home run, the Scrappers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Jake Allgeyer reached on a one-out walk, then scored on Suzuki’s double.

The Spikes again drew even in the fourth, but the Scrappers put together a two-run fifth to take the lead for good. In the sixth, Suzuki broke things wide open with his bases-loaded homer over the right field wall.

Suzuki finished the night 3-for-6 with five RBIs. Dirksen, Allgeyer, McCrae, Zach Ketterman and Issac Willieams each chipped in with a pair of RBIs.

Thursday’s crowd broke the previous Eastwood Field record of 7,726, which was set on Sept. 2, 1999.

The Scrappers and Spikes continue their four-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m.