YORK, PA – The York College baseball squad posted their first shutout of the year as the Spartans blanked Messiah University in MAC Commonwealth play on a delightful Friday in York. Senior AJ Vincenzi and freshman Yandel Tolentino combined to throw a five hit shutout for the Spartans. 
The Spartans have won eight of their last 11 including two in a row with the sweep of Messiah.
 
Records: York 16-14 (7-3 MACC); Messiah 17-15 (7-5 MACC)
Score: York 13, Messiah 0
Hits: York 16, Messiah 5
Errors: York 2, Messiah 1
WP: AJ Vincenzi (4-4), LP: Christian Woodie (2-3)
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans jumped out on top early in the bottom of the first. Robby Elzinga led off the first with a walk and came around to score when Austin Denlinger drilled a triple to right center. Denlinger came around to score on a Joe Capobianco RBI ground out to short as York took the 2-0 lead.
• York extended their lead in the third as the top of the order got things rolling again. Elzinga singled to right to lead off the inning. Capobianco singled to right to move Elzinga to second. After a fly out, Andrew Santarpia singled to left, scoring Elzinga. Brendan Martin then scored Capobianco with an RBI single to center. Santarpia came around to play when the Falcons attempted a pick off play at first and the ball sailed into the Spartan bullpen as York's lead was 5-0 after three.
• York made it 6-0 in the fourth as Denlinger had an RBI single to score Garrett Kile who had singled to lead off the inning.
• The Spartans blew open the game open in the sixth inning as they plated six runs on four hits and four walks. Brian Jakubek kicked off the scoring in the frame with an RBI single to center. Kile came around to score on a wild pitch and Jakubek scored on a Denlinger RBI ground out to make it 10-0. Capobianco followed with an RBI single while Martin closed out the scoring in the frame with a bases loaded walk.
• Santarpia concluded the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
• What got lost in the big offensive output was senior AJ Vincenzi twirling seven shutout innings. Vincenzi scattered four hits, struck out four and walked four. He was the beneficiary of three Spartan double plays that preserved the shutout. Freshman Yandel Tolentino closed out the game with two innings of one-hit baseball to keep the Falcons off the board.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Andrew Santarpia: 4-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, BB
Austin Denlinger: 2-for-6, 1 run, 3 RBI, 3B
Robby Elzinga: 2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 BB, HBP
Joe Capobianco: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI
Michael Tinneny: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
AJ Vincenzi: 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 4 K, 4 BB
Yandel Tolentino: 2.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans improve to 50-9 all-time against Messiah as York has won seven straight in the series … the shutout was the Spartans' first since April 24 when York blanked Eastern 11-0 behind Robert Chaney's 6.2 innings of shutout baseball … the Spartan pitching staff threw three shutouts in 2021 … York reached double figures in runs for the 12^th time in 30 games this year … York reached double figures in hits for the 17^th time this year with their 16 hits … 15 of York's 16 base hits were singles as Austin Denlinger's triple was the lone extra base hit of the day … York continues to draw free passes as the Spartans walked six times in the game and have earned 28 walks in the last five games … the Spartans have outscored their opponents 50-28 in the first inning … York is now 7-3 at home … the Spartans are 11-1 when scoring 10 runs or more in a game … Denlinger's triple gives him 16 for his career as he is now one three-bagger short of tying Rick Dressler's school record of 17 … Joe Capobianco increased his team lead in RBI as he now has 38 … Capobianco is tied with Denlinger for the lead in runs scored (37) while he leads the team in slugging percentage (.748) … freshman Andrew Santarpia set a new career-high with his four hits.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return to action on Saturday when they travel to St. David's, PA to face the Eastern University Eagles in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader. Game one is slated for a 12:00 pm start.