YORK, PA – The York College baseball squad opened up their 2022 home campaign with a solid 16-7 win over Elizabethtown College on a brilliantly beautiful Wednesday afternoon in York.
The Spartans bounced back nicely from Tuesday's loss at Catholic as York has won four of its last five games.
 
Records: York 5-5, Elizabethtown 4-9
Final Score: York 16, Elizabethtown 7
Hits: York 15, Elizabethtown 15
Errors: York 2, Elizabethtown 2
WP: AJ Vincenzi (2-1); LP: Joseph Sarich (0-1)
 
How It Happened
• The Blue Jays threatened in the first inning but senior starter AJ Vincenzi was able to escape the jam without any damage. The Spartans struck for three runs in the first on the benefit of just one hit as Austin Denlinger doubled with one out in the inning. What followed was a hit batter, three walks and a fielder's choice, allowing Yor to plate a trio of runs with just that one hit.
• Elizabethtown got a run back on a Tyler McGonigle RBI double in the top of the second, cutting York's lead to 3-1. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Denlinger doubled down the third base to start the rally. Jack Barry walked and then Joe Capobianco stroked a double to deep right center field, scoring Denlinger and Barry for the 5-1 Spartan lead.
• The Blue Jays chipped away at the Spartan lead with single runs in the third, the fourth, and the fifth innings, cutting York's lead to 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Brendan Martin blasted a solo home run to deep left, pushing York's lead back to 6-4. In the bottom of the sixth, Denlinger had a tremendous hustle double and he moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Blue Jay error, extending the York lead to 7-4.
• The Spartans blew the game open in the seventh. The inning started with Elizabethtown right fielder AJ Bednar making an exceptional running catch in the gap, robbing Davaughn Reid of extra bases. York then loaded the bases and Robby Elzinga stroked a single through the drawn in infield for the 8-4 lead. Denlinger then singled to right to score a pair. Barry doubled just inside the left field line to score Elizinga. Capobianco singled to right to score Denlinger as the lead grew to 12-4. Andrew Santarpia singled to center to score two more to complete the inning.
• Both teams scored a pair of runs in the eighth and Elizabethtown closed out the scoring with a single run in the ninth to provide for the Spartans' final 16-7 margin of victory.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Austin Denlinger: 4-for-5, 4 runs, 2 RBI, 3 2B
Joe Capobianco: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 2B
Brendan Martin: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR, SB
Garrett Kile: 2-for-4, 2 runs
Robby Elzinga: 2-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
AJ Vincenzi: 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 ER, 1 K, 4 BB
Dawson Rightenour: 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 1 K
Sam Gardner: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans improve to 30-23-1 all-time against the Blue Jays as York has won three straight in the series … York has won four straight home openers at Jaquet Field … the Spartans reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time … York has had double figures in hits in all ten games this season … York tied a season high with six doubles (March 1 at Rutgers-Camden and March 10 vs. Kean) … York drew eight walks, the third time this year they had drawn eight or more walks in a game … junior Brendan Martin stole a bag and that's just the fifth stolen base for the Spartans this year … Martin also homered for the second straight game with his fifth inning solo shot … senior Joe Capobianco set a new career high with five RBI while his two doubles ties his career high … Capobianco and Austin Denlinger combined to have five of York's six doubles … Denlinger's three doubles set a new career high while his four hits tied his career high which have come in four other games over his career … freshman Andrew Santarpia picked up three more RBI in the win as he now leads the squad with 15 in just eight games … senior AJ Vincenzi picked up his team-leading second win of the year as he has thrown a team-high 14 innings this year while his 13 strikeouts also lead the team ... Elizabethtown used seven pitchers in the game as each pitcher allowed at least one run ... the Blue Jays' Tyler McGonigle came into the game hitting just .115 but went 4-for-4 at the plate in the game. 
 
Up Next
The Spartans head to Salisbury University for three games in the Salisbury Sea Gull Classic. The Spartans face Shenandoah on Friday at 3:00 pm then square off against the Sea Gulls on Saturday at 11:00 am. York closes out the tournament on Sunday against Alfred State at 11:00 am.
Those are the first three of a five-game road swing for York.