York, PA- The York College Spartans split a doubleheader against the Hood College Blazers on Saturday in a defensive opening battle, followed by an offensive explosion in the second game. Hood got their second MAC win of the season in game one off a great pitching display. The walk-off win in the seventh inning of a 2-2 tie made for a three-game winning streak, their longest of the season. The Spartans then came alive in the second game, once again forcing an early stoppage against a conference opponent. York's impressive showcase in the second contest snapped a seven- game losing streak as they downed the Blazers 16-3 in five innings.
 
Game One
Records: York 18-13; Hood 10-19
Score: York 2- Hood 3
Hits: York 3; Hood 10
Errors: York 2; Hood 1
LOB: York 5; Hood 5 
WP: Rebecca Gotleib (8-7); LP: Gretchen Barstad (0-3)
 
How it Happened
• The Blazers' bats got going their first time around the order by playing small ball against the Spartan defense. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, Hannah Cohen knocked home Rebecca Gotleib for a quick Hood College lead. Centerfielder Rylee Dreyer made an outfield assist to stop the runner on second from scoring, which was then followed up by a 4-5-3 inning ending double play on the next batter. 
• In the bottom of the fifth, Kaelyn Blocher hit the first extra base hit of the game with a one out triple. She was then brought home on a RBI single by Gottleib. The inning then ended on another double play, this time in 6-4-3 fashion. 
• After five hitless innings on the mound from Gotleib, York finally got going in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Morgan Sauers to pull the Spartans within one. A two- out walk followed by an error allowed Alexis McDonaugh to come to the plate with a chance to tie the game. She cashed in, scoring Dreyer from second. 
• York starter Gretchen Barstad came out for the seventh inning to try and go for her first complete game of the year, but would end up falling just short. After a lead off single by Robin Charlton, a fielding error on the ensuing at- bat put runners on first and third with no outs. Jocelyn Pfleiger then ended the first contest of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Charlton for a Blazer win. 
 
Spartan Offense Leaders
Morgan Sauers: 2-for-3, HR
Alexis McDonaugh: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
 
Spartan Pitching
Gretchen Barstad: 6.2 IP, 10 hits, 3 ER, 2 K, BB
 
Game Two
Records: York 19-13; Hood 10-20
Score: York 16; Hood 3
Hits: York 20; Hood 5
Errors: York 0; Hood 4
LOB: York 5; Hood 5
WP: Kyrsten Coppage (10-4) LP: Jordan Long (1-5)
 
How it Happened
• York came out swinging in game two, matching their hit count from game one in the first inning alone. Gretchen Barstad was active on the bases, stealing second after a base hit, grabbing third on a single by Daphney Adams, and tagging up for a run on a sacrifice fly from Emma Wade to open the scoring. Alexis McDonaugh's bat stayed hot, as she singled home Adams to make it two runs in the first. 
• The Spartans ballooned their lead to seven in the second inning with more contact hitting and speed on the base path. Olivia Turchi and Rylee Dreyer both singled and then swiped bags on a passed ball. Turchi was brought home by Morgan Sauers, who then stole second base. The same sequence was repeated when Barstad knocked home Dreyer, and then stole an open second base. After an infield hit loaded the bases, Wade scored Barstad and Sauers with her first of four RBI's on a three- hit evening. 
• Kyrsten Coppage had another quality start, striking out four on the way to her 10th win of the year. Her only blemish on the start came in the third, when she surrendered three earned runs at the hands of a solo home run, an RBI double, and a bases loaded walk. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Coppage struck out one and forced a lineout to the next batter to get out of further trouble. 
• York batted through the lineup in the fourth inning, tallying seven runs in an eight- hit barrage. After beginning the rally with a leadoff single to start the frame, Wade came back for the second time in the inning to double home Adams who was on second from a two-RBI double of her own. 
• After Jordyn Woodling launched a solo home run in the top of the inning, Coppage and the defense sealed the game shut in the bottom of the fifth to earn the split. 
 
Spartan Offense Leaders
Emma Wade: 3-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI
Gretchen Barstad: 3-for-4, 4 RBI, 3 R
Daphney Adams: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R
Rylee Dreyer: 3-for-4, 3 R
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 5 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 4 K, 3 BB
 
Spartan Notes
York now leads the all-time series 21-4 over Hood. The Green and White have won eight out of the last nine against the Blazers … York has now reached double digit runs nine times this season … Gretchen Barstad now leads the MAC Commonwealth in hits with 48 … Emma Wade now owns the single season RBI record as she has 58 for the year.
 
What's Next
The Spartans return to Spartan Field on Wednesday for a doubleheader against the Susquehanna University River Hawks. Action is set to start at 3:00 pm at Spartan Stadium.