READING, PA – The York College softball squad opened up MAC Commonwealth play in impressive fashion as they went on the road and hung a pair of losses on previously unbeaten Alvernia on Saturday. York won game one 3-0 and completed the sweep with a crazy 9-8 win in the nightcap.
The Golden Wolves entered the game a perfect 6-0 while the Spartans had lost two straight and six of their last seven after a 3-0 start.
 
Game One
Records: York 5-6 (1-0 MACC); Alvernia 6-1 (0-1 MACC)
Score: York 3; Alvernia 0
Hits: York 9; Alvernia 3
Errors: York 2; Alvernia 2
WP: Amanda Criss (2-2); LP: Maggie Loomis (3-1)
 
How It Happened
• After a scoreless first, the Spartans fashioned a two-out rally to get on the board. Reagan Wolford doubled to left to get the uprising started. Morgan Sauers singled and Wolford came around to score on an error by the Golden Wolves' right fielder. Sauders stole second and then scored on Emma Keller's double to center, giving York the 2-0 lead.
• The Spartans had another two out rally in the fourth as Keller ripped another double and moved to third on another Alvernia error. Taylor Coon scored Keller with an infield single for the 3-0 lead. 
• That would be more than enough for Spartan starter Amanda Criss as she tossed the complete game shutout. Criss scattered three hits, struck out eight and walked one.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Emma Keller: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 2B
Taylor Coon: 2-for-3, BB, SB
Alyssa Harhigh: 2-for-4, 2 SB
Reagan Wolford: 1-for-3, 1 run, 2B
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-3, SB
Daphney Adams: 1-for-4, 2B
 
Spartan Pitching
Amanda Criss: 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 8 K, 1 BB
 
Game Two
Records: York 6-6 (2-0 MACC); Alverni 6-2 (0-2 MACC)
Runs: York 9; Alvernia 8
Hits: York 13; Alvernia 12
Errors: York 2; Alvernia 2
WP: Natalie Rietema (3-2), LP: Ashlyn Hillanbrand (2-1)
 
How It Happened
• The offenses were very quiet over the first four innings of the game. That changed in a big way in the top of the fifth inning. The Spartans broke the scoreless tie with a six run inning. The Spartans loaded the bases for Alyssa Harhigh who then singled to left to get the Spartans on the board. Daphney Adams doubled to left clearing the bases for the 4-0 Spartan lead. Adams then rode home on a two-run homer from Emma Wade as the Spartan lead grew to 6-0.
• The Golden Wolves got two runs back with back-to-back RBI doubles from Paige Paciolla and Jaclyn Barbera. The Spartans got those two runs right back in the top of the sixth as Taylor Coon had an RBI double to left. Coon then scored on a Harhigh single to left as the Spartan lead grew to 8-2.
• Alvernia plated a third run in the sixth on a Payton Lascala RBI ground out. The Spartans got what turned out to be a huge run in the top of the seventh. The Spartans loaded the bases with one out and Morgan Sauers drove in a run on an RBI fielder's choice as the York lead was 9-3. The Spartans would get a walk but left the bases loaded heading to the bottom of the seventh.
• York would need all six runs of their lead in the bottom of the frame. The Golden Wolves put up five runs in the inning and had the game-tying run at third with two outs. Spartan reliever Amanda Criss got a strikeout to end the game with the tying run 60 feet from home. 
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Taylor Coon: 3-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2B
Alyssa Harhigh: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
Emma Wade: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR
Morgan Sauers: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Daphney Adams: 1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
 
Spartan Pitching
Natalie Rietema: 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 K, 3 BB, WP
Amanda Criss: 2.1 IP, 7 hits, 6 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, WP
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 8-7 all-time against Alvernia as York has won three straight in the series … the Spartans notched their third shutout of the year in game one … the 13 hits in game two is the second-highest total of the year behind the 16 hits against Illinois College … York tied a season high with four stolen bases in game one … the Spartans snapped a six-game homerless streak with Emma Wade's game two dinger … grad student Amanda Criss tossed her first shutout of the year as she blanked the Golden Wolves on three hits with eight strikeouts … Emma Keller and Taylor Coon are neck-and-neck for the team leading in batting average as Keller is hitting .415 while Coon is at .414 … Keller also leads the team in RBI while she is tied with Daphney Adams for the team lead for doubles with six … York is now 16-for-17 in stolen bases with Alyssa Harhigh leading the way with a perfect 7-for-7 mark.
 
Up Next
The Spartans are now off until Saturday, March 25 when they travel to Messiah to face the Falcons in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 1:00 pm.
The Spartans were scheduled to play the University of Scranton at home on Sunday but that twin bill has been postponed and will be made up later this season.