ANNVILLE, PA – The York College baseball squad suffered an 8-2 MAC Commonwealth Tournament semifinal loss to top seeded Lebanon Valley on Saturday in Annville, PA. The Dutchmen scored five runs in the fifth inning to break the game open.
The Spartans must now win two games on Sunday to advance to the Commonwealth championship series for the third year in a row.
 
MAC Commonwealth Semifinals – Game One
Records: York 20-19; Lebanon Valley 15-15-1
Runs: York 2; Lebanon Valley 8
Hits: York 6; Lebanon Valley 8
Errors: York 0; Lebanon Valley 1
WP: Tommy Moore (7-0); LP: AJ Vincenzi (2-2)
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans struck first in the top of the second as Michael Tinneny doubled to right to start the inning. Jacob Deimling sacrificed Tinneny to third and the Spartan third baseman scored on a Connor Pickle RBI ground out.
• The Dutchmen answered in the bottom of the second Connor Smith tripled and scored on a Dan Mangold single to right. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Mangold scored on a fielder's choice to give the Dutchmen at 2-1 lead.
• Each team scored a single run in the fourth. York's run came on a Pickle home run to right with two outs. The Dutchmen's run came on a Smith home run to right center as LVC had the 3-2 lead.
• The Dutchmen put the game away with a five run fifth that featured four hits and two walks. LVC loaded the bases with two walks and a fielder's choice. A Logan Brewer drove in the first run with an RBI single. After a fielder's choice out, Smith completed his huge day with a grand slam to right to push the lead to 8-2.
• York wasn't able to really string together a rally as they face elimination on Sunday.
• Smith hurt the Spartans as he was 3-for-5 with five RBI, three runs scored on two home runs and a triple.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Michael Tinneny: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 2B
Connor Pickle: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR
Gabe Trevena: 1-for-4
Bryce Shaffer: 1-for-4
 
Spartan Pitching
AJ Vincenzi: 4.1 IP, 5 hits, 8 ER, 0 K, 7 BB
Yandel Tolentino: 0.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs
Sam Gardner: 3.0 IP, 1 hit, 2 K, 1 BB
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans fall to 1-3 against the Dutchmen this year but are still 27-14 against LVC all-time … York is now 10-5 all-time in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament … the Spartan pitching staff walked a season-high eight in the loss … York was held to two runs or less for the 11^th time this year … the Spartans have scored 14 runs in their last five games with seven of those runs coming against Messiah in the 4/5 Play In game on Thursday … York has allowed nine home runs in four games against LVC this season ... junior Sam Gardner pitched a career-high three scoreless innings out of the pen for York.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head back to Annville on Sunday to face the Dutchmen for the right to advance to the MAC Commonwealth championship series. The Spartans must win both games tomorrow to earn the right to advance while the Dutchmen just need one win to advance. First pitch tomorrow will be at 12:00 pm.