ANNVILLE, PA – The York College softball team dropped their MAC Commonwealth Tournament opener at Lebanon Valley as the second seeded Messiah University Falcons downed the third-seeded Spartans 9-4 in game two of the tournament.
The Spartans drop into the consolation bracket of the tournament. They will face Stevenson in an elimination game on Thursday.
 
MAC Commonwealth Tournament Game #2
Records: #3 York 18-19; #2 Messiah 29-11
Runs: York 4; Messiah 9
Hits: York 9; Messiah 7
Errors: York 2; Messiah 0
WP: Maggie Chinnadurai (10-7); LP: Amanda Criss (9-7)
 
How It Happened
• The game got off to an explosive start as the teams combined for five first inning runs. The Spartans loaded the bases with an Emma Keller hit by pitch, a Morgan Sauers infield single, and a walk to Daphney Adams. Kaela Fritz was hit by a pitch to plate Keller with the game's first run. After a strikeout, Amanda Criss was hit by another pitch to make it 2-0 York. The Spartans left the bases loaded after a ground out to second.
• The Falcons came right back as Elianna Litwin got Messiah on the board with an RBI single. Allie Book then ripped a double to left center to score a pair and give the two-seed a 3-2 lead.
• The Green and White tied the game in the top second on a third hit by pitch with the bases loaded as Adams was plunked by a pitch.
• The Falcons put a three spot up in the third to take a 6-3 lead. A Spartan error led to the first run followed by an Ali Wagner double to score a pair.  Messiah extended the lead to 8-3 courtesy of a bases loaded walk and another Spartan error.
• The teams traded runs in the sixth as Alyssa Harhigh had an RBI single while Book had a sacrifice fly for the Falcons.  
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Morgan Sauers: 2-for-4, 1 run
Emma Keller: 1-for-2, 1 run, HBP
Alyssa Harhigh: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
Daphney Adams: 0-for-1, RBI, 2 BB, HBP
Kaela Fritz: 1-for-3, RBI, HBP
 
Spartan Pitching
Amanda Criss: 2.2 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB, 1 HB
Natalie Rietema: 3.1 IP, 1 hit, 3 ER, 5 K, 4 BB, 2 WP
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 7-3 all-time in the MAC Commonwealth tournament … the Spartans fall to 2-1 against Messiah in the conference playoffs … York swept the Falcons in a three-game series in 2021 as York captured their first ever conference title.
 
Up Next
The Spartans will face Stevenson in an elimination game on Thursday at 4:30 pm. The winner advances to face Eastern University in another elimination game on Friday at 1:00 pm.