KISSIMMEE,
FLA – The York College softball squad closed out their
12-game, seven day spring trip odyssey to Kissimmee, Florida with
mixed results. The Spartans began the day with a 4-0 win over #5
Coe College before falling to Aurora College 2-0 in their final
game in sunny Florida.
The Spartans conclude the trip with a record
of 11-1, one of the best starts in school history.
The win over Coe established a new school
standard as that is the highest ranked team that the Spartans have
ever beaten. The Kohawks, who were the Division III national
runner-ups last year, entered the first NFCA national ranking at
number five after their NCAA Tournament run.
The Spartans gave ace Brittany Therres
(Hughesville, Md./Thomas Stone) some much-needed early
support with two runs in the top of the first. Senior catcher
Julie Norris (Frederick, Md./Frederick) gave her
battery mate the lead courtesy of a clutch two-out, two-run single.
Therres was very good from the start as she
limited the Kohawks to five base runners over the first five
innings.
The Spartans gave Therres two more runs in the
fifth with the help of the Coe defense. The Kohawks committed three
errors in the fifth inning that led to the Spartans' two runs
in the frame as the York lead grew to 4-0.
Coe put two runners on base in the sixth and
then loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh
but Therres escaped unscathed in posting her third shutout of the
year. Therres improves to 8-0 with the win as she scattered four
hits, striking out two and walking five. Micah Nardini suffered the
loss as she allowed four unearned runs on six hits with three walks
and a strikeout in her seven inning stint.
Freshman Hannah Hugel (Paoli,
Pa./Conestoga) continues to be an offensive force for the
Green and White as she went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Norris was
1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Megan Van Meter
(Hanover, Md./Archbishop Spalding) added the
Spartans' lone extra base hit with her fifth double of the
year.
Four Kohawks had singles in the loss as Katie
Gibson, Amanda Hanson, Chelsea Zaugg, and Sidney Ridout had the Coe
base hits.
In the nightcap, the emotion of the biggest
win in Spartan softball history caught up with York as they came
out flat for the Aurora game. Aurora is also a talented group as
they posted 31 wins last season.
The Aurora Spartans got to York Spartan
starter Corrine Majczan (Center Valley, Pa./Southern
Lehigh) for a single run in the top of the second courtesy
of a sacrifice fly.
The Spartans weren't able to muster much
offense early as they didn't get a runner on base until
Kelly Smith (Riverdale, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti)
singled to lead off the third inning. Smith advanced to second but
was stranded as Aurora starter Lindsay Decker got a pair of
strikeouts to end the inning.
Tristan Wilcox jacked a one-out solo homer in
the top of the fifth, chasing Majczan from the game. Therres kept
Aurora off the board the rest of the way but York wouldn't be
able to reach Decker as she twirled a shutout. Decker allowed four
hits and struck out five in her complete game.
Majczan was solid in her start as she allowed
two runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk in her
4.1 innings of action. Therres scattered three hits in her 2.2
inning stint. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.
Wilcox, Jessica Scott, and Brooke Spencer each
had two hits for Aurora. Stephanie Lynch added a hit and an RBI in
the win.
Michelle Barwick (Catonsville,
Md./Dulaney) picked up two hits off the bench for the
Spartans while Hugel and Smith were each 1-for-3.
The Spartans now get a little down time as
they have 10 days until they return to action on March 16 when they
travel to Selinsgrove, PA to face Susquehanna University in a
non-conference twin bill. The Green and White then make their home
debut on Thursday, March 18 against Juniata. That kicks off a
12-game home stand that runs through the end of March.
PHOTO: Sophomore Megan Van Meter
