YORK, PA – In a hit fest going in favor of the Rutgers-Camden University Scarlet Raptors, the York College baseball team ended their 2015 home schedule with a 9-6 non-conference loss at Jaquet Field on Thursday afternoon in York.

The Scarlet Raptors are now 26-16 while the Spartans fall to 14-22 following the loss. The Scarlet Raptors are clinging to hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

After a quiet first inning for the Raptor and Spartan offense, the Raptors came alive in the top of the second. The lone hit for the Raptors in the second was a big one as Pedro Perez led off with a solo shot to left field, giving them the early 1-0 lead.

The Raptors got their bats going in the top of the third. Zach Ellin led off with a triple and then scored as Brett Tenuto hit an RBI single to right field. Jon Theckston singled to left center, advancing Tenuto to third. The hits kept on coming as Joe Brooks hit an RBI single right field, scoring Tenuto and advancing Theckston to second. Bobby Romano then reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Brooks to second. Two wild pitches by Spartan pitcher Randy Frankenfield (Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissahickon) scored Brooks, to extend the Raptors lead to four.

The Spartans answered right back in the bottom half in a big way. Derek Pitzer (York, Pa. / Dallastown) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pitzer then moved to third in a failed pickoff attempt by Raptor pitcher Ryan Sullivan. After Zach Hossler (Jefferson, Md. / Brunswick) drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Logan Countryman (Baltimore, Md. / Loch Raven) banged an RBI single to right field, scoring Pitzer to cut the lead to four. A walk to Sean Mohollen (Rose Valley, Pa. / Strath Haven) loaded the bases with one out for the Spartans. Brad Wenzel (Blandon, Pa. / Fleetwood Area) drilled an RBI single to left center to score Hossler, cutting the lead to three. After Stephen Miele (Allentown, Pa. / Salisbury) grounded out to first, scoring Countryman, Christian Bilan (Lumberton, N.J. / Camden Catholic) roped a two-run single through the left side, giving the Spartans the 5-4 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Doug Carter crushed a double to left field and tied the game at five when Ellin drove Carter in and then moved to second on the throw. After Tenuto singled to left field, advancing Ellin to third, Spartan head coach Mike Scappa saw enough as Dan Gurganus (Prince Frederick, Md. / Huntingtown) came in to relieve Frankenfield. The Raptors took the 7-5 lead as Brooks stroked a two-run triple to right center.

The Spartans came inching back in the bottom half as Scott Steffy (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown East) ripped a double to right field. Hossler then singled to left center, advancing Steffy to third. Countryman cut the Raptors lead to one as hit an RBI single through the left side, scoring Steffy.

Hits kept on coming for the Raptors as Ellin led off the top of the sixth with a single through the left side. Ellin advanced to second on a Spartan balk and advanced to third as Tenuto flied out to center field. The Raptors added to their lead as Theckston hit an RBI single through the left side.

The Raptors added an insurance run in the top of the ninth but it would not matter as the Spartan bats fell flat in the final three innings of the game. The Spartans fall to the Raptors, 9-6.

Raptor starting pitcher Sullivan got the no decision as he allowed five runs on three hits in 2.2 innings pitched. He struck out two. Carter Fichter earned his fourth victory of the season as he gave up one run on six hits in 5.1 innings of relief. Fichter struck out five in the win. Kyle Gaff closed it out for the Raptors as he earned his sixth save of the season in one inning of work.

Frankenfield suffered the loss as he gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. He struck out three. Gurganus allowed one run on five hits in 3.2 innings of action while striking out two. Zach Philippi (Levittown, Pa. / Harry S. Truman) gave up one unearned run on one hit in two innings of work in the loss.

The Raptors banged out 16 hits in the win this afternoon. Tenuto, Theckston, Brooks, and Ellin all tallied three hits a piece. Carter added two while Billy Jackson and Perez contributed one each. Brooks recorded three RBI while Tenuto added two.

For the Spartans, Countryman and Hossler recorded two hits. Seth Brosius (Magnolia, Del. / Caesar Rodney), Wenzel, Miele, Bilan, and Steffy added a hit in the loss. Coutryman and Bilan tallied two RBI each while Wenzel and Miele each had one.

The Spartans travel to Campbell's Field in Camden, New Jersey on Saturday, May 9 to wrap up the two game series against the Rutgers-Camden University Scarlet Raptors in their final game of the 2015 season. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.

Recap written by Sean Naylor – Athletic Communications Student Assistant