Box Score WHITTIER, CALIF.- The York College got a second chance to open their 2024 season as they earned a 5-1 win at Whittier College on Tuesday afternoon in Whittier, California. Monday's original opener at Claremont-Mudd-Scipps got rained out with the Spartans winning 9-0 in the top of the fourth.
The Spartans got three runs in the fifth to unlock a 1-1 tie.
 
Records: York 1-0; Whittier 2-2
Runs: York 5 – Whittier 1
Hits: York 6; Whittier 4
Errors: York 0; Whittier 1
LOB: York 2; Whittier 5
WP: Kyrsten Coppage (1-0); LP: Bella Peinado (1-1)
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans struck first in the top of the opening inning as Rylee Dreyer drew a one out walk. Gretchen Barstad ripped a double to right center to put Spartans at second and third with one out. Daphney Adams got York on the board with a sacrifice fly to center to score Dreyer. Unfortunately for York, Barstad ended the inning by getting caught trying to advance to third.
• The Poets opened their half of the first with a walk to shortstop Heaven Wolf. Spartan starter Kyrsten Coppage got the next two Poets but Maya Palos singled to right allowing Wolf to score all the way from first, tying the game at one.
• Whittier threatened in the third as they had runners at the corners with two outs but Coppage forced the next hitter to pop out, ending the threat.
• The Spartan offense woke up in the fifth as Emma Wade led off inning with a blast to left center, giving York a 2-1 lead. The Spartans continued the inning as they got runners to second and third with two outs. Morgan Sauers then plated the two runners with a single down the right field line as the Spartan lead grew to 4-1.
• York tacked on a single run in the sixth as Adams blasted her first home run of the year to right center as the Green and White led 5-1.
• Coppage cruised from there as the first year Spartan picked up her first collegiate win in her collegiate debut. The lefty allowed one run on four hits with one strikeout and three walks in her seven innings of work.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Emma Wade: 2-for-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2B, HR (1)
Daphney Adams: 1-for-2, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (1), SF
Gretchen Barstad: 2-for-3, 2B
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 K, 3 BB, Win (1-0)
 
Spartan Notes
The meeting is the first between the two programs … the game is first in the game in the state of California for any York College varsity program … the Spartans are now 5-0 in season openers under head coach Kaitlyn Dulac … the home run for Emma Wade was her fifth career home run while the tater for Daphney Adams is her ninth career home run in her 123rd career game … Adams also notched her 35^th runner thrown out attempting to steal, tops all-time in Spartan history.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head to the University of Redlands on Wednesday to take on the Bulldogs in a twin bill. The Bulldogs enter the game with a record of 8-1 as they have won three straight. Game one is set for a 2:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am local) start from Redlands, California.