YORK, Pa. - The third-seeded Spartans posted a doubleheader sweep over fourth-seeded Messiah on Saturday to capture the MAC Commonwealth Championship at Spartan Stadium.

York shut out the Falcons, 3-0, in game one and won game two, 9-1, on run rule in five innings to clinch the program's first-ever conference title. Senior Shyla Pastore was named the MAC Commonwealth Softball Championship Most Valuable Player.

Team records

Messiah 16-12

York 18-9

Game 1

York 3, Messiah 0

WP: Shyla Pastore (9-3)

LP: Madison Walter (11-6)

How it happened

The Spartans broke up the scoreless tie on a squeeze play in the fifth inning. Shyla Pastore led off the inning with a double and reached third on a Hannah Vogt sacrifice bunt. That set the table for Taylor Coon who laid down a well-placed bunt just far enough to the left side of the circle to allow Pastore to reach home before Madison Walter could make a throw to the plate.

Elle Meyer kept the fifth-inning rally going as she followed Coon's bunt with an infield single to move Coon into scoring position. Then, Natalie Decena cleared the bases with a two-run triple to give York the three-run lead

Pastore went on to retire six of the final seven batters with an assist and putout of her own.

Game 2

York 9, Messiah 1 (5 innings)

WP: Shyla Pastore (8-3)

LP: Brynne Baker (L, 5-4)

How it happened

The Spartans worked out of a jam with limited damage in the top of the first. The Falcons scratched one run across, but Alyssa Harhigh made the final two outs with the bases loaded as she threw home to get the lead runner, then stepped on second on a ground ball for the final out to leave three runners stranded.

The Spartans got the run back and tied the game, 1-1, in the second inning as Hannah Vogt poked a single over the outstretched glove of Isabel Seise at first. Kaela Fritz, running all the way on the play, came around to score from second for the game-tying run on the Vogt single.

York had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the third inning with two runners in scoring position, but Brynne Baker recorded a clutch strikeout on Taylor Lindsay with a pitch on the inside corner to work out of the jam unscathed.

The Spartans jumped in front in the fourth inning when Elle Meyer placed a double just inside the left field line to bring in Pastore and Fritz. The Spartan rally continued later in the inning when Daphney Adams roped a double into the right center gap to clear the bases as York took a commanding 5-1 lead.

York had two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the fifth when Elle Meyer came through with a single up the middle to bring in Pastore. Meyer advanced to second on the relay throw home and Hannah Vogt moved over to third as York looked to do more damage with two outs. The Spartans would end up doing more damage after Natalie Decena walked to load the bases. Harhigh hit a ball back up the middle that was mishandled by Walter and allowed Harhigh to reach base safely. On the same play, Vogt came in to score to put the Spartans ahead by seven and hustling from second, Meyer, kept the wheels turning all the way home to score and put the Spartans up by eight to clinch the run rule and the victory.

Notes

Shyla Pastore earned the MAC Commonwealth Softball Championship Most Valuable Player honors as she picked up two wins in the circle on the day ... Pastore surrendered just one run on 10 hits in 12.0 innings of work … Pastore did not record a strikeout on the day, but she played brilliant defense as she totaled eight assists to prevent several potential hits up the middle … Pastore had a great day offensively, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored … Elle Meyer led York in hits on the day as went 4-for-7 and tied Pastore with the team lead in runs scored with three … York's 12 runs on the day more than doubled the amount of runs (5) Messiah surrendered in their five previous MAC Commonwealth Tournament games entering the day … The Spartans won all six meetings this season with Messiah, out-scoring the falcons 28-7 … York has now won the last seven-straight games against the Falcons dating back to 2019.

Up Next

The Spartans earned an automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship. The Spartans will find out who, when and where they will be playing following the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, May 17 at 1 p.m.