ANNVILLE, PA – The Lebanon Valley Dutchmen got a sixth inning sacrifice fly from catcher Luke Blair to drive in the go ahead run as they edged York College 2-1 in the opening game of the 2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship series. The Spartans will need to sweep the two Saturday games to capture their second straight conference title.
 
2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship Game #1
Records: York 23-18, Lebanon Valley 29-13
Runs: York 1, Lebanon Valley 2
Hits: York 4, Lebanon Valley 7
Errors: York 1, Lebanon Valley 2
WP: Kyle Kingsbury (7-3), LP: Zach Reed (5-3)
 
How It Happened
• The Dutchmen had a chance in the first as they loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error, a single and a walk. Spartan starter Zach Reed wiggled out of the jam as he got a strikeout and a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
• Both offenses would be quiet until the fifth. York opened their half of the inning with an Andrew Santarpia home run down the left field line for the 1-0 York lead. Brendan Martin followed the home run with a single to left center. After two outs, he stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch but he would be left stranded to end the inning.
• LVC got their fifth inning run thanks to a Pete Botbyl bunt single with two outs. Botbyl scored on a Nico Santoro double down the left field line, knotting the game at one.
• The Dutchmen got the go ahead run in the sixth as they again loaded the bases. This time Luke Blair got a ball in the air to center, scoring Mike Bulgia with the sacrifice fly. Reed again limited the damage as he got the final out of the inning with a line out to short.
• York got a runner on in both the eighth and ninth innings but Dutchmen starter Kyle Kingsbury got out of each inning to preserve the series opening win.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Andrew Santarpia: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (4)
Brendan Martin: 1-for-3, SB
Garrett Kile: 1-for-2, 2B (6)
Jack Barry: 1-for-4
 
Spartan Pitching
Zach Reed: 7.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 WP
Steven Hendrix: 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 2 K
 
Spartan Notes
York has lost all three of their meetings with LVC this year as they are now 24-10 all time against the Dutchmen … York had won five straight against LVC heading into this year including two in last year's championship series in York … York is now 0-6 when scoring two runs on less in a game … York falls to 1-6 in one-run games in 2022 … LVC's Kyle Kingsbury tossed a complete game as he struck out eight and didn't walk a batter … York is now 5-13 on the road this season … the loss is the Spartans' first when holding an opponent to two runs or less as they are now 6-1 … York is 6-12 when out hit by their opponents … York has been held to one run in two of their last three games … three of Andrew Santarpia's four home runs for the year have come in the last three games.
 
Up Next  
The mission for York will be very straight forward on Saturday. York must win both games to capture the 2022 MAC Commonwealth. Anything short of that will allow the Dutchmen to win the title and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Game one in Annville is set for noon and if York can force a game three, that game will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two.