Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 YORK, PA – The York College Spartan softball squad opened up their 2016 home campaign in fine fashion as the Spartans swept the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays in a non-conference doubleheader in York on Friday afternoon. York won game one 5-2 and completed the sweep with a 4-2 win in the nightcap. York improves to 9-3 overall as they have won four straight and six of their last seven. Elizabethtown falls to 6-6 overall.
Game One
Final Score: York (Pa.) 5 – Elizabethtown 2
Season Game Number: 11
Records: York (8-3) / Elizabethtown (6-5)
Site: Spartan Stadium – York, PA
Winning Pitcher (Record): Melissa Jurkiewicz (5-1)
Losing Pitcher (Record): Amber Sergas (2-3)
Save (Number): Courtney Martin (1)
How It Happened:
• The Blue Jays struck first in the top of the first as Elizabethtown banged out back-to-back doubles from Emma Varrato and Kelsey Brown with two outs to give the guests a 1-0 lead.
• York tied the game in the bottom of the third as Courtney Gall was hit by a pitch, moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a ground out. Gall then scored on a two out single from Joanna Marmo, tying the game at one.
• Elizabethtown recaptured the lead in the fourth as Emma Varrato doubled to center to lead off the inning. She would come around to score when Nicole Fullerton singled to left. The Green and White turned a double play to end the inning and escape any further damage.
• York took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth as Haley Hirn singled to left with one out. Junior Carleigh Ruleman then blasted a two-run shot to deep center for her third home run of the year.
• The Blue Jays threatened in the sixth but reliever Courtney Martin came in and got the final two outs of the inning to preserve the one-run Spartan lead.
• York added two more runs in the sixth as Ashley Werner singled to second and scored when Savannah Zittle ripped a two-run laser beam over the left centerfield wall to give York a 5-2 lead.
• Martin retired the Blue Jays in order in the seventh to earn the save.
Spartan Offensive Leaders:
Savannah Zittle: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, HR
Joanna Marmo: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 2B
Carleigh Ruleman: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, HR
Elizabethtown Leaders:
Emma Varrato: 3-for-3, 2 2B, 2 runs scored
Nicole Fullerton: 1-for-3, RBI
Kelsey Brown: 1-for-3, RBI
Spartan Pitching Leaders:
Melissa Jurkiewicz: 5.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 5 K, 0 BB
Courtney Martin: 1.2 IP, 0 hits, 1 K
Elizabethtown Pitching Leaders
Amber Sergas: 6.0 IP, 9 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 K, 2 BB
Game One Notes: The Spartans got five runs on nine hits with no errors in the win while Elizabethtown had two runs on six hits with no errors … Carleigh Ruleman's home run was her 16th career blast as she is now one home run away from tying Joy Byer's career home run record … the errorless game was the Spartans' third game of the year without an error … Savannah Zittle's home run was her first career round tripper in her 123 career at-bats … York hit a season-high two home runs in the victory.
Game Two
Final Score: York (Pa.) 4 – Elizabethtown 2
Season Game Number: 12
Records: York (9-3) / Elizabethtown (6-6)
Site: Spartan Stadium – York, Pa.
Winning Pitcher (Record): Courtney Martin (3-2)
Losing Pitcher (Record): Ashley Hullihan (3-1)
Save (Number): None
How It Happened:
• The Spartans got a run in the bottom of the first as Joanna Marmo doubled with two outs. She came around to score on a Haley Hirn RBI single to center.
• York added to the lead in the top of the third as the Spartans loaded the bases with two outs. Miranda Shandy was hit by a pitch to plate Savannah Zittle with York's second run. The Green and White left the bases loaded to end the inning.
• The Spartans extended their lead to 4-0 when Marmo delivered a two-run single down the right field line with two outs.
• Elizabethtown spoiled the shutout in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases on two singles and a Spartan error. Varrato doubled off the left field wall to plate a pair but Martin closed out the win as she got a ground out and the Spartans made it a double play when the runner at third strayed too far off the base on the ground out to end the game.
Spartan Offensive Leaders:
Joanna Marmo: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 2B
Haley Hirn: 2-for-2, 1 RBI, 2B
Courtney Gall: 1-for-3, 1 run scored, 2B
Miranda Shandy: 1-for-2, RBI, 2B
Elizabethtown Offensive Leaders:
Emma Varrato: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B
Christina Dark: 2-for-3, 2B
Kirstin Blass: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 2B
Spartan Pitching Leaders:
Courtney Martin: 7.0 IP, 9 hits, 2 earned runs, 8 K, 1 BB
Elizabethtown Pitching Leaders:
Ashley Hullihan: 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 4 earned runs, 4 K, 2 BB
Game Two Notes: The Spartans got four runs on eight hits with two errors while Elizabethtown got two runs on nine hits with one error … The Spartans turned three double plays in the two games including two in the second game … York tied a season-high with four double in the second game … Martin and Jurkiewicz combined to strike out 14 while they walked just one in the 14 innings of work in the circle.
What's Next: The Spartans return to action on Saturday when they travel to Eastern College to face the Eagles in a non-conference doubleheader in St. David's, PA. Game one is set to start at 1:00 pm.
