MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The York College baseball team closed out their spring trip with a flourish as they scored 11 unanswered runs to post a 12-6 come-from-behind win over #21 Kean University on Thursday in Myrtle Beach.
The Spartans, after having snapped a four-game losing skid on Wednesday, have now won three straight as the offense has started to click. York has reached double figures in runs in each of its last three games.
 
Records: York 4-4, #21 Kean 11-4
Score: York 12, #21 Kean 6
Hits: York 16, #21 Kean 13
Errors: York 3, #21 Kean 3
WP: Ethan Kennedy (1-0); LP: Gianni Marano (0-1); Save: None
 
How It Happened
• Kean opened the scoring in the top of the third as they plated three runs on five hits and an error as the Cougars assumed control of the game early. Kean made it 5-0 one inning later as a two-out rally fueled by a Spartan error that allowed two runs to score as it didn't look good for the Spartans.
• York got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as senior Joe Capbobianco led off the frame with a bomb to right, trimming the Spartan deficit to 5-1.
• Kean designated hitter Phil Marcantonio answered Capobianco's blast with one of his own, putting the Cougars up 6-1 through four and a half innings of play.
• Robby Elzinga continued his solid trip with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth, trimming the Spartan deficit to 6-2.
• York continued to chip away at the Kean lead in the sixth. Freshman Andrew Santarpia opened the inning with a double to left. After Kean got two outs, Garrett Kile had an infield single to put Spartans at the corner. Brian Jakubek came up with a big two-out double to score Santarpia and move Kile to third. Elzinga then notched an infield single to second to score Kile while Jakubek came around to score on an ensuing Cougar error as the Spartans trailed 6-5 after six innings of play.
• Capobianco came up big in the seventh as he launched a solo homer to right to lead off the inning, tying the game at six.
• The Spartans completed the comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a ground out to start the frame, Jakubek blasted his first career home run, a bomb to center which gave the Spartans the lead for good. The Spartans made sure they didn't carry just a one run lead to the ninth as Elzinga restarted the inning with another infield single. Austin Denlinger then doubled to right center, moving Elizinga to third. After a ground out and an intentional walk to Capobianco, Santarpia came up huge with his first career home run, a grand slam that blew the game wide open.
• Senior Devaughn Reid doubled to left after Santarpia's slam and he scored when Brendan Martin doubled down the left field line, providing for the Spartans' final 12-6 margin of victory.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Joe Capobianco: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR, BB
Andrew Santarpia: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI, Grand Slam, BB
Robby Elzinga: 3-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2B
Brian Jakubek: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR
Davaughn Reid: 2-for-5, 1 run, 2B
 
Spartan Pitching Leaders
Ethan Kennedy: 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 K, 0 BB (Win)
Zach Reed: 6.0 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs, 4 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP
AJ Vincenzi: 1.0 IP, 1K, 1 BB, 0 runs
 
Spartan Notes
The win snaps a three-game losing streak to the Cougars as York is now 5-6 all time against Kean … the meeting is the first between the two teams since May 5, 2015 … the last Spartan win against the Cougars was a long time in the making as York's last victory over Kean came on May 11, 2002, a 13-9 victory at the Greco/Cowan Memorial Tournament hosted by Monclair State University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey … York has now scored a combined 48 runs in their last three games … the Spartans banged out a season-high 16 hits in the win … York tied a season-high with six doubles while they blasted a season-high four home runs including two from senior Joe Capobianco and the first collegiate home runs from Andrew Santarpia and Brian Jakubek … York committed a season-high three errors which led to two of the six Kean runs being unearned … Santarpia is now hitting .500 with eight runs scored, two doubles, a home run and 11 RBI in six games for York … Robby Elzinga leads the Spartans in runs scored with 12 from his lead-off spot for York.
 
Up Next
The Spartans are set to make their 2022 home debut on Sunday against Elmira in the remaining game of the scheduled three-game series. Saturday's two games against the Soaring Eagles have already been canceled due to the impending weather forecast for winter weather. Please check back at www.ycpspartans.com for any baseball schedule changes. Sunday's game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm start.