YORK, PA – The York College baseball squad completed a weekend sweep of MAC Commonwealth foe Stevenson on a sunny Sunday afternoon in York.
The Spartans came from behind in both wins as they won the opener 3-2 in eight innings before completing the sweep 5-4 in the nightcap. York has won three straight and four of their last five games.
 
Game One
Records: York 11-10 (7-4 MACC); Stevenson 10-8 (4-4 MACC)
Runs: York 3; Stevenson 2
Hits: York 9; Stevenson 3
Errors: York 1; Stevenson 3
WP: Ethan Kennedy (3-1); LP: Matt Kossey (0-3)
 
How It Happened
• Both starting pitchers were on point early as York's Brandon Purdy and Stevenson's Sam Downs were sharp. Both pitchers cruised through the first two innings as the game was scoreless.
• The Mustangs broke into the scoring column in the third. Billy McAdam reached base with a one-out single. Purdy then lost temporary touch with the strike zone with back to back walks to load the bases. Nick Tamberino made Purdy pay with a double down the left field line, scoring a pair and giving the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. Purdy focused back in and got a pair of foul outs to first to get out of any further damage.
• The Spartans tried to answer in the bottom of the third as Lucas Prendergast singled to lead off the inning followed by a Brian Jakubek single to put runners at first and second with no outs. Downs responded with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to short to end the Spartan threat.
• York finally got to Downs with an RBI single from Brendan Martin in the fourth as York trailed 2-1.
• After the Mustangs nicked him for two runs, Purdy shut down Stevenson the rest of his outing. He retired 12 in a row before he walked Trent Smoot with one out in the seventh. He got the next two outs and he headed to the dugout hoping the Spartans could get the equalizer.
• The bottom of the seventh started with a Prendergast single to right. Jakubek sacrificed Prendergast to second. He moved to third on a Robby Elzinga ground out to first. Gabe Trevena then had one of the biggest at bats of the year as Downs had him down to his last strike. However, Trevena stroked a single to right, scoring Predergast, tying the game at two. Trevena stole second and it looked like York might win the game in regulation as Michael Tinneny hit a rocket that was caught by third baseman Jonathan Brandt to force extra innings.
• Junior Ethan Kennedy came out of the Spartan pen and retired the Mustangs in order in the eight setting the stage for the York offense to win the game. Andrew Santarpia opened the inning with a sharp single to center. Chris Nesensohn came in to pinch run and moved to second on a failed pick off. Jacob Deimling moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. The Mustangs then intentionally walked Martin and Chris Betler to load the bases. Prendergast proceeded to win the game three pitches later as he lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Nesensohn and giving York the walk off win.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Lucas Prendergast: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, SF
Jacob Deimling: 2-for-3, 1 run, 2B
Gabe Trevena: 1-for-4, RBI, SB
Brendan Martin: 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB
 
Spartan Pitching
Brandon Purdy: 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 2 K, 3 BB
Ethan Kennedy: 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 ER
 
Game Two
Records: York 12-10 (8-4 MACC); Stevenson 10-9 (4-5 MACC)
Runs: York 5; Stevenson 4
Hits: York 10; Stevenson 6
Errors: York 4; Stevenson 0
WP: Bryce Shaffer (3-1); LP: Brady Power (1-2); Save: AJ Vincenzi (3)
 
How It Happened
• The Mustangs got an unearned run in the first on a throwing error as they took the early lead. The Mustangs added to their lead in the second. Elliott Schilpp started the inning with a lead off walk. He was erased on a fielder's choice but Trent Smoot walked to put Mustangs at first and second with one out. Dylan Scott made it 2-0 with an RBI single and then another Spartan error allowed the runner from third to score as Stevenson led 3-0. Two of the three runs were unearned off Spartan starter Bryce Shaffer.
• York finally got on the board in the fourth. Andrew Santarpia began the inning with a deep drive to left center but Mustang center fielder Dylan Scott made a great running play for out number one. That defensive play would be big as York's next hitter, Jacob Deimling, drilled a solo homer to right for York's first run.
• Lucas Prendergast got the Spartans' bottom of the fifth started off with a double to right center. Senior catcher Emidio Bucci then made his day a memorable one as he drilled a two-run homer deep to right, tying the game at three. It was a joyous jaunt around the bases and the Spartans mobbed him when he got back to the dugout. Robby Elzinga kept the inning going with a single to center. Gabe Trevena followed with a perfect bunt to third to put Spartans at first and second. Michael Tinneny executed a sacrifice bunt to move Elzinga and Trevena up 90 feet. Elzinga scored when Santarpia single to left and Trevena scored on a Deimling RBI ground out.
• The Mustangs made it interesting in the seventh with a run off Spartan closer AJ Vincenzi but the right-hander got a fly out to right to end the game and earn his third save of the season.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Jacob Deimling: 1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR
Emidio Bucci: 1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR
Andrew Santarpia: 2-for-3, RBI
Lucas Prendergast: 2-for-3, 1 run, 2B
Robby Elzinga: 1-for-4, 1 run
 
Spartan Pitching
Bryce Shaffer: 5.0 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 ER, 3 BB, WP, HB
Yandel Tolentino: 1.0 IP, 1 hit
AJ Vincenzi: 1.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, K
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans have won eight straight in the series against the Mustangs and hold a 33-11 lead in the all-time series … the Spartans hit multiple home runs in game two and that's the fifth time this year they have done that including twice in the last three games … York had five sacrifice bunts in the three game sweep of the Mustangs … after striking out a season-high 13 times in the series opener, York had just nine strikeouts in the Sunday twin bill … the Spartans committed a season-high tying four errors in game two and have seven miscues in their last four games … York improves to 4-0 in one-run games and are now 5-3 at Jaquet Field … the Spartans are in the middle of a stretch where play seven of nine games at home … York is now 4-1 when hitting multiple homers in a game … York is now 7-1 when out-hitting their opponents … York is 2-0 in extra innings … senior Emidio Bucci hit his first career home run in his 75^th career at-bat … freshman Lucas Prendergast raised his average to .359 as he is 14-for-39 for the year with 13 runs, two doubles and eight RBI in his 15 games for the Spartans … sophomore Brandon Purdy tossed a career-high seven innings in his game-one no-decision … Purdy allowed just three hits in his outing … sophomore Bryce Shaffer picked up his sixth career win and his third this season in game two.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return home on Tuesday as they host #2 Salisbury University in a non-conference contest at Jaquet Field. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 3:30 pm.

Audio Highlights courtesy of Darrell Henry - The Voice of the Spartans