SELINSGROVE, PA – The York College baseball team stranded the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second in the top of the ninth to fall to the Susquehanna University Crusaders 4-3 in non-conference play on Thursday in Selinsgrove, PA.

The Crusaders are now 16-15 while the Spartans fall to 13-17 following the loss.

After Crusader pitcher Bobby Wittemann retired the Spartan side in the top of the first, the Crusaders got on the board in the bottom half of the frame. Three straight Crusader singles by Tom Shields, Justin Cassinelli, and Zach Leone put Spartan pitcher Matt Goodman (Owings Mills, Md. / Franklin) in a tough spot early on. Matt Cassinelli then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Shields on a Spartan throwing error to give the Crusaders the 1-0 lead.

The Spartans answered right back in the top of the second as Sean Mohollen (Rose Valley, Pa. / Strath Haven) ripped a double down the left field line. After Derek Pitzer (York, Pa. / Dallastown) grounded out to second, advancing Mohollen to third, Seth Brosius (Magnolia, Del. / Caesar Rodney) reached on a fielder's choice with Mohollen scoring on a Crusader throwing error to tie the game at one.

Wittemann and Goodman were both dominate in the next three innings until the Crusaders took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Shields reached base, advancing to second on another Spartan throwing error. Justin Cassinelli then laid down a sacrifice bunt, which advanced Shields to third. After Leone was intentionally walked, the Crusaders took the 2-1 lead as Matt Cassinelli laid down yet another sacrifice bunt, scoring Shields from third.

Once again, the Spartans tied the game in the top of the seventh. Two straight Crusader errors put J.J. Oleniacz (Great Falls, Va. / Langley) on third and Logan Countryman (Baltimore, Md. / Loch Raven) on first with one out in the inning. Oleniacz tied the game at two as he scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Brad Wenzel (Blandon, Pa. / Fleetwood Area).

Justin Cassinelli led off the bottom of the eighth with a double down the left field line. Leone then grounded out to third, advancing Justin Cassinelli to third. The Crusaders took the 3-2 lead as Matt Cassinelli roped an RBI single to center field. After Bryan Palsi singled to first, advancing Matt Cassinelli to second, Kyle Semmel singled down the right field line to expand the Crusaders lead to two at 4-2.

In the top of the ninth, Liam Conboy came in to relieve Travis Eiswerth after he allowed a one-out walk to Spartan pinch hitter Steve Miller (Massapequea, N.Y. / Plainedge). Collin Crowell (Stewartstown, Pa. / Kennard-Dale) then came in to pinch run for Miller and advanced to second as Oleniacz reached base on the Crusaders' fourth error. The fifth Crusader error came the next play as Countryman reached base to load the bases with one out. Wenzel cut the Crusader lead to one as he hit a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring Crowell. Unfortunately for the Spartans, that would be it as Conboy got Stephen Miele (Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury) to ground out to seal the 4-3 Crusaders victory.

Witteman earned his first win of the season as he allowed two unearned runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He added six strikeouts in the win. Eiswerth gave up one hit and recorded one strikeout in his one inning of relief. Conboy tallied his fifth save of year as he allowed one unearned run in one inning of work.

Goodman suffered the hard-luck loss as he gave up four runs, two earned, on eight hits in eight innings of work. He struck out two Crusaders.

Justin Cassinelli led the Crusaders with two hits. Six other Crusaders added a hit a piece against the Spartans. Matt Cassinelli recorded three RBI while Kyle Semmel contributed one in the win.

For the Spartans, Mohollen had three hits while Brosius and Oleniacz added two each. Pitzer contributed a hit in the loss. Wenzel recorded two RBI on a pair of sacrifice flies while Brosius tallied one against the Crusaders.

The Spartans have a two day break until they travel to Owings Mills, Maryland on Sunday, April 26 to face the Stevenson University Mustangs. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.

Recap written by Sean Naylor – Athletic Communications Student Assistant

Matt Goodman photo courtesy of David Sinclair