LA VERNE, CALIF. – The York College softball squad closed out their 2024 California spring trip with a sweep of La Verne on Thursday afternoon in La Verne, California. The Spartans won game one 3-2 in eight innings and then completed the sweep with a 9-1 win in the nightcap. The sweep came one day after York suffered a pair of tough losses at Redlands. The Green and White put together a pair of complete games in ending their spring trip with a record of 3-2.
 
Game One
Records: York 2-2; La Verne 2-5
Score: York 3 – La Verne 2, 8 innings
Hits: York 2; La Verne 4
Errors: York 2; La Verne 0
LOB: York 4; La Verne 8
WP: Natalie Rietema (1-1); LP: Kirstin Sanchez (1-1)
 
How It Happened – Game One
• Both pitchers cruised through the opening two and a half innings before the Leopards struck in the bottom of the third. La Verne got on board with two runs but only hit the ball out of the infield once. The Leopards opened the inning with a bunt single from Taylor Gray. Angelina Alderete followed with a second bunt single to put runners at first and second. Julia Miramontes laid down a third bunt but the Spartan defense couldn't handle it as the Leopards loaded the bases with no outs. The Spartans got the first out at the plate on a nice play by Lindsey Smith. Ashley Rodriguez then broke the scoreless tie with a bloop single just over the infield for the 1-0 La Verne lead. The Spartans got another nice defensive play from third baseman Bri McKeown and it looked like the Spartans might get out of the jam with only one run allowed. However, Marissa Acosta drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0.
• The Leopards got a pair of runners on with one out in the fourth but Spartan starter Natalie Rietema wiggled out of the jam with a line out and a strikeout.
• The Spartan offense broke through in the sixth as Morgan Sauers started the inning with a single through the left side. Rylee Dreyer and Gretchen Barstad drew back to back walks to load the bases. Daphney Adams ripped a fly ball to deep center that La Verne centerfielder Ashley Rodriguez made a great play on as Sauers scored on the sacrifice fly. Emma Wade then grounded out to score Dreyer on the throw, knotting the game at two.
• Rietema cruised through the next two innings to force extra innings for the first time this year. The international tiebreaker started in the top of the eighth as left fielder Reagan Wolford was placed on second base. Wolford advanced to third on a wild pitch. La Verne pitcher Kirstin Sanchez got the next two Spartans out but a second wild pitch in the inning scored Wolford with the winning run.
• Rietema closed out the game by setting down the final three Leopards of the game to earn her first win of the year. She was assisted by a big-time diving play by Sauers at short to record out number one in the inning, keeping the tying run at second. Rietema retired the final 14 Leopard hitters she faced to close out the game.
 
Spartan Offense Leaders
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-4, 1 run
Kylee Paules: 1-for-3
Rylee Dreyer: 0-for-3, 1 run, BB
Daphney Adams: 0-for-1, RBI, SF
Emma Wade: 0-for-3, RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
Natalie Rietema: 8.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 ER, 6 K, 4 BB
 
Game Two
Records: York 3-2; La Verne 2-6
Score: York 9 – La Verne 1
Hits: York 14; La Verne 6
Errors: York 1; La Verne 0
LOB: York 8; La Verne 8
WP: Kyrsten Coppage (2-1); LP: Jaidyn Alvarez (0-3)
 
How it Happened – Game Two
• The Spartans could not have gotten off to a better start as they exploded for five second inning runs. Emma Wade and Bri McKeown singled to open the inning. They both advanced 60 feet on a wild pitch. After a ground out held the runners, Lindsey Smith laced a double inside the third base bag, scoring Wade with the game's first run. After La Verne got the second out of the inning, Morgan Sauers singled up the middle to score McKeown for the 2-0 lead. The Spartans then loaded the bases with a Rylee Dreyer walk before Gretchen Barstad ripped a three-run double to deep right center to put York up 5-0.
• The Spartans added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Kylee Paules and Daphney Adams each had a sacrifice flies to score runs for the Green and White as they led 7-0 through three and a half innings of play.
• The Leopards broke up the shutout in the fourth. They got a lead-off double from Ashley Rodriguez and she eventually came around to score on a Marissa Acosta sacrifice fly to right.
• York tacked on single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to provide for their nine runs. The Spartans' eighth run came on an Adams RBI double to right center while the ninth run came on an Alexis McDonaugh RBI single.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Morgan Sauers: 4-for-5, 2 runs, RBI
Gretchen Barstad: 2-for-3, 1 run, 3 RBI, 2B, BB
Emma Wade: 2-for-4, 1 run
Bri McKeown: 2-for-4, 1 run
Daphney Adams: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, SF
Lindsey Smith: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2B, BB
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 ER, 3 K, 3 BB (Win, 2-1)
 
Spartan Notes
The games were the first meeting between York and La Verne … the Spartans scored a season-high nine runs in game two with a season-high 14 hits … York had a season-high four doubles in game two … York struck out just five times in 15 innings on Thursday … Spartan starters Natalie Rietema and Kyrsten Coppage combined to throw 15 innings, allowing three runs on ten hits with nine strikeouts and seven walks in the two victories … Emma Wade led the Spartans during the five game trip as she hit .429 with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run and three RBI … Daphney Adams hit .417 with two runs scored, two doubles, a homer and six RBI … Gretchen Barstad also had a great trip as she hit .385 with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI … Barstad also drew four walks … junior Morgan Sauers set a new career-high with four hits in the game two win … Sauers hit .350 in the five games with four runs scored, a double and five RBI.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return to Pennsylvania before returning to action on Thursday when they head to the University of Scranton for a non-conference twin bill. Game one is set for a 3:00 pm start in Scranton, PA.