SALISBURY, MD – The York College softball squad opened their stay at the 2016 Capital Athletic Conference championship tournament in heart-breaking fashion as the fourth seeded Spartans dropped a 2-1 decision to fifth seed Mary Washington on Thursday morning in Salisbury, MD.

CAC Tournament Game #1

Final Score: #5 Mary Washington 2 - #4 York (Pa.) 1

Season Game Number: 41

Records: York (Pa.) 25-16 / Mary Washington 13-28

Site: SU Softball Field – Salisbury, Maryland

Winning Pitcher: Erin Stinson (5-11)

Losing Pitcher: Melissa Jurkiewicz (13-9)

Save: Kara Deppe (1)

How It Happened:

• The game was scoreless through the first six innings. Mary Washington had three hits through the first six innings as they got a runner to third in the first and again in the fourth but the Eagles wouldn't be able to get on the board. York got a Carleigh Ruleman single in the second but she was erased as she attempted to go to third on an error on a failed pick off attempt.

• The action picked up in the top of the seventh. Hannah Hautz singled with one out to start the uprising. After Melissa Jurkiewicz got a fly out to center for the second out of the inning, Sarah Manugo drew a walk to move Hautz to second. Pinch hitter Emma Rakowski then delivered a clutch double to left center, scoring Hautz with the game's first run. Another pinch hitter, Courtney Merson, made it 2-0 with a single to short. The Spartans would get out of the inning without and further damage.

• York got that run back the first batter into their bottom of the seventh inning as Ashley Werner blasted an 0-2 pitch deep over the wall in left center. The home run is Werner's second of the season.

• Junior shortstop Katie Maloney kept the inning going with a single to third. Haley Hirn sacrificed Maloney to second with one out. Ruleman was hit by a pitch to put Spartans at first and second. After Joanna Marmo popped up to second for the second out, Jurkiewicz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mary Washington reliever Kara Deppe got Brittany Myers on three swings to preserve the win for the Eagles.

Spartan Offensive Leaders

Ashley Werner: 1-for-3, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, HR

Katie Maloney: 1-for-3

Carleigh Ruleman: 1-for-1, 1 BB, 1 HBP

Mary Washington Offensive Leaders

Hannah Hautz: 1-for-3, 1 run scored

Emma Rakowski: 1-for-1, 1 RBI, 2B

Courtney Merson: 1-for-1, 1 RBI

Spartan Pitching Leaders

Melissa Jurkiewicz: 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 K, 1 BB

Mary Washington Pitching Leaders

Erin Stinson: 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 K, 1 BB

Kara Deppe: 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 1 K, 0 BB

Notes:

The Spartans are now 2-5 in one-run games this year … The Spartans are now 9-5 in games in which they hit a home run … Mary Washington owns a 2-1 series lead for the year against the Spartans with both wins coming by one run (3-2 and 2-1) … the loss is just the third in 24 games when York holds an opponent to two runs or less … York is now 2-12 when scoring two runs or less … York is now 0-4 when tied after six innings of play … Ashley Werner's home run extends York's school record of team home runs in a season to 27.

What's Next:

York will now face the loser of the #2 Christopher Newport and #3 Frostburg game at 4:00 pm on Thursday afternoon in an elimination game. The Captains and Bobcats play at 12:00 pm in Salisbury in the tournament's second round.

Ashley Werner photo courtesy of David Sinclair