York,PA- The York College Spartans capped off an impressive 13-3 month of March with two dominating wins over the Stevenson Mustangs in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Friday.
The Spartans' bats were too overwhelming for their in-conference rival, and the Green and White have now won five in a row. The first game saw dominant pitching from Natalie Rietema to hold the Mustangs to only one run. The ensuing match-up almost came with history as Daphney Adams was a double short of hitting for the cycle, as the Spartan offense put up 19 runs. The pair of decisive victories keep York just behind Messiah in the close race for the MAC Commonwealth divisional lead. 
 
Game One
Records: York 15-5; Stevenson 6-6
Score: York 9- Stevenson 1 
Hits: York 13; Stevenson 6
Errors: York 0; Stevenson 0
LOB: York 3; Stevenson 6
WP: Natalie Rietema (5-4); LP: Molly Parker (1-1)
 
How it Happened
• The Spartans got a two out rally going in the bottom of the first when graduate student Daphney Adams doubled home Morgan Sauers. Junior Emma Wade promptly brought Adams home as the next batter with her seventh home run of the year. Alexis McDonaugh singled to keep the inning alive and quickly was brought across home plate when Bri McKeown also went yard for her first ever collegiate home run. The Spartans came away with 5-0 after one inning of play. 
• The Mustangs gave York starter Natalie Rietema some trouble in the third inning when they loaded up the bases on a leadoff walk followed by two base hits. Rietema and the Spartan infield worked around the jam and Stevenson only came away with one run after a 6-4-3 double play ended the top of the inning.
• York got its last two extra base hits of the first game in the fifth inning from doubles by Gretchen Barstad and McDonaugh. Barstad was brought home on a single by Adams, who eventually scored on McDonaugh's two-bagger. This made it 8-1 in York's favor. 
• The finishing touches were put on the contest in the bottom of the 6th inning after Barstad singled to bring home Olivia Turchi, putting the mercy rule into effect as the Spartans gained an eight-run advantage. 
 
Spartan Offense Leaders
Rylee Dreyer: 2-for-4
Gretchen Barstad: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2B
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-3, 2 runs, HR, BB
Alexis McDonaugh: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2B
Daphney Adams: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 runs
Emma Wade: 1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Bri McKeown: 1-for-3, 1 run, HR, 2 RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
Natalie Rietema: 6.0 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 5 K, 4 BB (Win, 5-4)
 
Game Two
Records: York 16-5; Stevenson 6-8
Score: York 19; Stevenson 11
Hits: York 22; Stevenson 11
Errors: York 3; Stevenson 1
LOB: York 4; Stevenson 5
WP: Natalie Rietema (6-4); Ky Vaugh (5-1)
 
How it Happened
• Mustang senior McKenzie Tobler got the first of four runs batted in on the day during the first inning when she doubled home Maddie Bosley. Tobler was brought in on a one out ground-out to put Stevenson up 2-0 after half an inning of play. 
• Daphney Adams picked up right where she left off from game one, homering in the bottom of the first to give York the lead. She brought in Rylee Dreyer and Gretchen Barstad, marking the first of five times the lead would switch in game two. 
• After Stevenson would go on to combine for seven runs in the second and third innings, Natalie Rietema would come on in relief for the Spartans at the end of the third inning. After pitching a full game one, Rietema would put in three innings of work to stifle the Mustang bats. The ace struck out four and lowered her season ERA to 3.61
• In the bottom of the third, junior Emma Keller came off the bench and batted home pinch runner Jordyn Woodling on a base hit. Coach Dulac then made another great substitution, pulling Keller for Olivia Turchi who stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and walked home off a double from Morgan Sauers. The Spartans then caught a break when Barstad reached first base on an error that loaded the bases, which was followed up by a bases- clearing triple from Adams. The six-run inning would put the Green and White in the lead for good. 
• The sixth inning once again capped the contest between the two MAC rivals after Adams reached home via an Alexis McDonaugh base hit to extend the lead to eight, which put an end to the wild offensive showcase by both teams. 
 
Spartan Offense Leaders
Daphney Adams: 4-for-4, HR, 3B, 6 RBI, 4 runs
Rylee Dreyer: 4-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 runs
Emma Wade: 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, BB
Bri McKeown: 3-for-4, 2 runs
Morgan Sauers: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, BB
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 2.0 IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 5 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
Gretchen Barstad: 0.2 IP, 3 hits, 4 runs, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB
Natalie Rietema: 3.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB (Win, 6-4)
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Mustangs 37-10 … York has now beaten Stevenson on three straight occasions, dating back to last year's game in early May … the 19 runs in game two was the highest count for the Spartans all year, as was their 22 hits … the 19 runs are the most since February 29 against Elizabethtown when York won 20-1 in head coach Kailtyn Dulac's second game as the Spartan head coach … York's three home runs in the first match-up was the most by a York team since April 2, 2022 when the Spartans cleared the outfield fence three times against Albright … grad catcher Daphney Adams had a huge day going 6-for-7 with six runs, seven RBI, a double, a triple and a home run in addition to one stolen base … Rylee Dreyer went 6-for-8 with three runs scored, three RBI and two stolen bases in the two wins … Emma Wade was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, seven RBI, two doubles a home run and two walks … the Spartans hit .565 in the game with an .887 slugging percentage … the Spartans drew five walks and only struck out twice on the day … Adams set a new career-high with four hits while her nine total bases was also a career-high in game two … Dreyer matched her career high with four hits in game two … junior Bri McKeown blasted her first career bomb in game one … Morgan Sauers drilled her fourth career home run and they have all come this year … Emma Wade now has 40 RBI to lead the MAC Commonwealth … in fact York has the top four players in RBI in the league.
 
What's Next
The Spartans are set to travel to Glenside, Pa. to face the Arcadia Knights in a doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch for game one is slated for 4:00 at Blankley Field.