YORK, PA – The Messiah University Falcons rode a seven run third inning to a 10-6 MAC Commonwealth win at Jaquet Field on Thursday afternoon in York. The game was the MAC Commonwealth opener for both teams. 
The Spartans have now lost five straight as they dropped their conference opener for the second straight season.
 
Records: York 3-6 (0-1 MACC); Messiah 4-6-1 (1-0 MACC)
Runs: York 6; Messiah 10
Hits: York 10; Messiah 10
Errors: York 3; Messiah 1
WP: JJ Zirkle (1-1); LP: Zach Reed (0-2)
 
How It Happened
• Both teams tallied single runs in the second inning. Messiah got their run on a David Martinez RBI single. The Spartans' run came after Jacob Deimling doubled to right and then scored on a two-out Emidio Bucci RBI single down the right field line.
• The Falcons exploded with seven runs in the third but the Spartan defense played a big part in the Messiah uprising. The Falcons got seven runs on four hits, two errors, a wild pitch, and two walks. Sam Zercher, Martinez and Dustin Isanogle each had two run hits in the frame.
• York got three runs back in the fifth to trim their deficit to 8-4. Gabe Trevena and Michael Tinneny had back-to-back RBI doubles and then Trevena scored on an RBI ground out from Brendan Martin.
• The Green and White crept closer in the sixth as Chris Nesensohn scored on a wild pitch. Robby Elzinga then plated Lucas Prendergast with an RBI single as York was down just 8-6 heading to the seventh.
• The Falcons got those two runs back in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring. Evan Wagaman tripled to lead off the inning. Isaiah Parido then hit a rocket against the drawn in Spartan infield. Trevena made a great stop at second to prevent the run but couldn't get the out despite his great effort. Parido stole second and then Thomas Zeigler had a sacrifice fly to center. Parido alertly went to third and scored on a Martinez ground out to third on another great play, this one by sophomore third baseman Tinneny.
• York stranded two runners in the eighth and two more in the ninth as they couldn't get any closer. The Spartans stranded 10 more runners in the loss.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Lucas Prendergast: 2-for-2, 2 runs scored
Emidio Bucci: 2-for-3, 1 run scored, RBI
Robby Elzinga: 2-for-5, RBI
Gabe Trevena: 1-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2B
Michael Tinneny: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2B
 
Spartan Pitching
Zach Reed: 2.1 IP, 7 hits, 8 runs, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP
Ryan Kulick: 4.2 IP, 2 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP
Ethan Kennedy: 2.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB

Spartan Notes
The loss snaps a seven-game Spartan win streak against the Falcons … York leads the all-time series against the Falcons 50-10 … Right-hander Ryan Kulick was brilliant in relief as he tossed a career-high 4.2 innings while he allowed two runs on two hits with a career-high two strikeouts as he kept the Spartans in the game … junior Ethan Kennedy had his best outing of the year out of the pen as he tossed two innings, allowing a single and a walk as he kept the Falcons off the board … freshman infielder Lucas Prendergast had a career-high two hits while he also scored a career-high two runs … senior catcher Emidio Bucci tied his career-high with two hits … York collected ten hits, the sixth time this year the Spartans reached double figures in hits … York drew just two walks but they were hit by a season-high four pitches … York has committed 14 errors during their five game losing streak after just having four miscues in their first four games … York has now surrendered 20 unearned runs in 78.0 innings this year as 29.8% of the Spartans allowed runs are unearned … York has uncorked 17 wild pitches in nine games.  
 
Up Next
The Spartans and Falcons will square off in a pair of seven inning games on Saturday to conclude the three-game MAC Commonwealth series. Game one in Grantham is set for a 12:00 pm first pitch.