WINCHESTER, Va. – The York College baseball team couldn't get the timely hits they needed against the Hornets of Shenandoah University as they fell 6-3 at Bridgeforth Field in Winchester, Virginia on Monday afternoon.

The Hornets improve to 13-3-1 while the Spartans are now 7-8 following the loss.

It didn't take long for the Hornets to get going as they tallied three runs in the first off of Spartan pitcher Matt Goodman (Owing Mills, Md. / Franklin). Goodman got Billy Arens to fly out to left field to start the game but then allowed a single to John Wilt. After Michael Paul flied out for the second out, Wilt advanced to second on a wild pitch. Daniel Freshley roped an RBI double to right center, scoring Wilt. Back to back singles from J.J. McDaniel and Ryan Mossman gave the Hornets the early 3-0 lead.

As the Spartans continued to struggle at the plate against Hornets pitcher Ryan Mossman, the Hornets struck again in the bottom of the third. Freshley doubled to right field and would score as McDaniel ripped an RBI single to left center. After Mossman grounded out to short, advancing McDaniel to second, Ricky Pardo stroked an RBI double down the right field line to expand the Hornets lead to five.

Stephen Miele (Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury) led off the top of the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on a Hornet throwing error. Sean Mohollen (Rose Valley, Pa. / Strath Haven) then stroked an RBI single to center field to get the Spartans on the board. The Hornets answered in the bottom half as Arens crushed a triple down the right field line. Wilt then laid down a squeeze bunt, scoring Arens from third to give the Hornets the 6-1 lead.

The Spartans would score a run in the sixth and a run in the eighth, both times off the bat of Mohollen to cut the Hornets lead to three.

Steve Miller (Massapequea, N.Y. / Plainedge), who came in to pinch hit for Dominic Messina (Marlton, N.J. / Camden Catholic), led off the top of the ninth with a single to right field. Christian Bilan (Lumberton, N.J. / Camden Catholic) pinch-hit for J.J. Oleniacz (Great Falls, Va. / Langley) and was then hit by a pitch, advancing Zach Hossler (Jefferson, Md. / Brunswick), the pinch runner, to second. Hornet pitcher Phillip Morse struck out Logan Countryman (Baltimore, Md. / Loch Raven) for the second out and then picked off Bilan at first to seal the 6-3 victory.

Mossman earned his third win of the season as he allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits in seven strong innings of work. He also struck out six Spartans. Steven Varner gave up one run on one hit in 0.2 innings pitched. Phillip Morse tallied his first save of the season as he allowed two hits and struck out two in his 1.1 inning of action.

Goodman suffered the loss as he allowed six runs, five earned, on 14 hits in eight innings pitched. He struck out two Hornets in the loss. He falls to 2-1 with the setback.

McDaniel led the 14-hit parade for the Hornets with three knocks. Arens, Freshley, Mossman, and Joe Coleman each added two hits in the win. Three other Hornets notched a hit in the victory. McDaniel had two RBI while four other Hornets tallied one run batted in a piece.

Mohollen led the Spartans with three hits while four others tallied a hit. Mohollen also knocked in three RBI for the Spartans.

The Spartans return back to Jaquet Field on Wednesday, April 1 in a Capital Athletic Conference matchup against the St. Mary's College Seahawks. First pitch is slated for 3:30pm.

Recap written by Sean Naylor – Athletic Communications Student Assistant

Photo courtesy of Shenandoah Athletic Communications Office