YORK, PA – A two-run double off the bat of Christian Bilan (Lumberton, N.J. / Camden Catholic) gave the York College baseball team the lead in the bottom of the eighth was the difference maker as the Spartans came away with the 12-9 non-conference victory over the Rowan University Profs Wednesday afternoon at Jaquet Field.

The Spartans are now 13-16 overall while the Profs fall to 22-9.

The Profs got on the board early in the first. Nick Kreiger drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third as Eric Oliver singled to center field. Oliver would get picked off at first but the Profs took the 1-0 lead as Casey Grimes banged an RBI single to left center for the early lead.

Ryan Pavlik led off the top of the second with a single to left field and he advanced to second on a Spartan error. Stephen Petriello expanded the Profs lead to three as he launched a two-run shot to left field. The Spartans would get something going in the bottom half of the frame. Bilan led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Collin Crowell (Stewartstown, Pa. / Kennard-Dale) then banged an RBI single to left field to cut the Profs lead to two.

Oliver drew a walk to start the top of the third for the Profs. After Grimes struck out swinging, Oliver advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Steven Todd then singled, advancing Oliver to second. Pavlik hit an RBI single down the right field line, scoring Oliver to expand the Profs lead back to three. Once again, the Spartans came roaring back in the bottom half as Brad Wenzel (Blandon, Pa. / Fleetwood Area) led off with a double to right center. Back-to-back doubles by Sean Mohollen (Rose Valley, Pa. / Strath Haven) and Derek Pitzer (York, Pa. / Dallastown) cut the Profs lead to one heading to the top of the fourth.

The Profs would add onto their one run lead as Pavlik hit a solo shot to right field in the top of the sixth. The Spartans came right back in the bottom half as J.J. Oleniacz (Great Falls, Va. / Langley) reached base on a Prof error. Logan Countryman (Baltimore, Md. / Loch Raven) then singled to right field and tried to take two bases on a Prof error but would get thrown out at third. Oleniacz would score on that play, cutting the lead to one. The wild play was indicative of what would follow in the last three innings of the game.

After Keith Ryback came in to relieve Johnny Dunn in the bottom of the seventh, Miele greeted him by crushing a triple into deep right center. Mohollen then plated Miele with an RBI single, tying the game at five. Mohollen stole second and advanced to third on another Prof error to put himself at third. After Pitzer was hit by a pitch, the Prof coaching staff saw enough as Alec Marconi entered the game out of the pen. The Spartans took the 7-5 lead as Bilan ripped a double just inside the left field line, scoring Pitzer and Mohollen.  

In the top of the eighth, the Profs answered right back. After Todd reached on a fielder's choice and Pavlik singled to right field, Petriello smoked a two-out, three-run home run to left center to give the Profs the 8-7 lead. Evan Hughes then doubled to right field and scored from second as Mike Ras singled to center field, expanding the Profs lead to two.

The crazy game see-sawed back in the favor of the Spartans in the bottom of the eighth. Rob Grili came in to replace Marconi and would give up a leadoff single to Countryman. Wenzel then reached on a fielder's choice while Countryman advanced to second on yet another Prof error. After Miele laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Wenzel and Countryman up 90 feet each, Mohollen grounded out, scoring Countryman to cut the lead to one. With Wenzel at third and two outs, Pitzer turned on his jets as he hit a chopper to short and beat out the throw, scoring Wenzel to tie the game at nine. After Seth Brosius (Magnolia, Del. / Caesar Rodney) singled and advanced the second on the throw, Bilan came up to the plate with runners on second and third. The freshman came through as he smoked a two-run double into center field to give the Spartans the 11-9 lead. Bilan advanced to third on a Prof error and would eventually score from third as Grilli balked.

That would be it for the Spartans offense as Zach Philippi (Levittown, Pa. / Harry S. Truman) shut the Prof offense down in the top of the ninth to seal the wild, 12-9 victory.  

Spartan starter Randy Frankenfield (Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissahickon) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings of work. He struck out five in the no decision. Dan Gurganus (Prince Frederick, Md. / Huntingtown) picked up his second win of the season, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Gurganus added two strikeouts. Philippi recorded his second save of the season as he pitched the final inning of the game.

Prof starter Ryan Sharkey gave up one run, zero earned, on three hits in two innings pitched. Sharkey struck out three Spartans. A plethora of relievers came out of the Profs bullpen throughout the game. Combined, they allowed 11 runs, five earned, on 14 hits in six innings of action. Grilli suffered the loss as he allowed five unearned runs on five hits in his one inning of work.

Countryman led the Spartans with four hits while he also scored a run. Bilan was 3-for-5 with three doubles, four RBI, and a pair of run scored. Mohollen went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Pitzer added two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Green and White. Wenzel and Crowell each added a pair of knocks for the Spartans.

Pavlik led the Profs as he was 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Petriello was 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Grimes and Ras each added a pair of hits for the Profs.

The Spartans travel to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania tomorrow, April 23, to take on the Susquehanna University Crusaders. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm.

Recap written by Sean Naylor – Athletics Communications Student Assistant

Christian Bilan photo courtesy of David Sinclair