NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The York College softball squad saw their season come to a close on Friday afternoon as they dropped a 7-0 decision to Misericordia University in an NCAA Tournament elimination game in Newport News, Virginia.
The Cougars move on to face Roanoke in another elimination game on Friday.
The Spartans were held to two hits and had one other runner as their offense struggled during their two games in the tournament. The loss snapped the Spartans elimination game winning streak which was five. 
 
NEWPORT NEWS REGIONAL – GAME FOUR
Records: York 23-21; Misericordia 27-12
Runs: York 0; Misericordia 7
Hits: York 2; Misericordia 13
Errors: York 1; Misericordia 0
WP: Alexa McHugh (14-3); LP: Amanda Criss (13-8)
 
How It Happened
• The Cougars struck in the second inning as the first two hitters each drew a walk. A sharp single to center by Alexa McHugh loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder's choice erased a Cougar runner at the plate for out number one. Misericordia pinch ran for designated player Gianna Foreman and that proved to be big for them as pinch runner Olivia Hull scampered home on a Zariah Alvin sacrifice fly. Spartan starter Amanda Criss got out of the jam as she allowed just the one run.
• In the fourth, the Cougars loaded the bases on three consecutive base hits but Criss extricated herself from the situation with a foul out, a fly out and a fielder's choice as Misericordia's lead remained 1-0.
• Misericordia had a big fifth inning to make life more difficult on the Spartans. Nicole Elliott singled with one out to start the uprising. Kaitlin Redling laced a double down the left field line that eluded a diving Kylee Paules to go all the way to the wall, allowing Elliot to cruise home. Alexa McHugh singled to drive in Redling to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
• The Cougars put the finishing touches on the win in the top of the seventh as Misericordia put up a four spot to push the lead to 7-0 heading into the Spartans' final at bat.
• Much like the opening round game, the Spartan offense scuffled throughout the game. York had just a Morgan Sauers single in the first and a Gretchen Barstad walk in the second. Misericordia starter McHugh retired 14 straight Spartans after the Barstad free pass. Kaela Fritz had a two-out infield single in the seventh to snap the streak. McHugh finished the game striking out six and walking just one in the two-hit shutout.
• Criss battled all day in the circle as she had to work around Cougar traffic as the score could have been far worse. Twice, she worked out of bases loaded jams and allowed just one run. However, the Cougars were relentless in their attack as they earned the win. Misericordia stranded 10 runners on base in the game.
 
Spartan Offensive
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-3
Kaela Fritz: 1-for-3
Gretchen Barstad: 0-1, BB
 
Spartan Pitching
Amanda Criss: 6.1 IP, 13 hits, 7 runs, 6 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
Natalie Rietema: 0.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 BB
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans fall to 0-3 against Misericordia this year as the teams are now 8-8 against each other all-time … York struggled offensively during the tournament as they had seven hits in the two games, scoring just three runs … the Spartans got shutout by Misericordia starter Alexa McHugh for the second time this year as McHugh twirled a five-hit shutout on March 16 in York … the Spartans struck out a combined 19 times in the two tournament games while they drew just two walks … sophomore Morgan Sauers ended the season strong as she had at least one hit in 18 of her 20 final games of the year … Sauers had a team-high three hits in her two tournament games … Sauers finished the season tied with Alyssa Harhigh for second in multi-hit games with 13 while senior center fielder Taylor Coon led the way with 14 multi-hit games … Harhigh finishes her Spartan career with her name all over the Spartan record book … Harhigh finished first in career runs scored (151), doubles (45), RBI (150), total bases (351), and hit by pitch (39) while she is second in slugging percentage (.682), on-base percentage (.468), hits (194), and home runs (30).
 
Up Next
The loss concludes the careers of graduate students Alyssa Harhigh and Amanda Criss while seniors Kaela Fritz and Taylor Coon have played their last games in the Green and White. The Spartans get back on the field in September for the start of the fall campaign. That group was a big part of winning a pair of MAC Commonwealth championships while also making a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.