YORK, PA – The York College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Susquehanna University on Wednesday afternoon in York.
The River Hawks won game one 8-4 while the Spartans earned the split with a 9-0, five inning win in the nightcap.
The Spartans are now 20-14 overall while Susquehanna is 16-16.
 
Game One
Runs: York 4 – Susquehanna 8
Hits: York 5; Susquehanna 7
Errors: York 4; Susquehanna 0
LOB: York 2; Susquehanna 7
WP: Brianna Jones (11-6); LP: Natalie Rietema (9-7)
 
How It Happened
• Susquehanna got on the board early with two runs in the second inning. A Spartan error started the inning followed by a Stevie Shaak single to left, putting River Hawks at the corners with no outs. Susquehanna then pulled off a double steal for the game's first run. Hannah Roland singled home Shaak for the 2-0 lead.
• That would be more than enough for Susquehanna starter Brianna Jones. Jones was perfect through the first three innings as she posted six strikeouts in nine hitters. The Spartans broke through in the bottom of the fourth as Morgan Sauers jumped on Jones' first pitch of the inning for a solo bomb to left, breaking up the perfect game and the shut out with one swing.
• Jones got back in the groove after the home run as she retired the final three hitters of the inning and then set the Spartans down in order in the fifth and sixth innings.
• The River Hawks blew the game open in the seventh as they scored six runs on five hits with three Spartan errors, turning at 2-1 game into an 8-1 contest.
• Gretchen Barstad kicked off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch. Daphney Adams followed with a single to center to put two runners on for the Spartans for the first time in the game. They wouldn't stay on base long as Emma Wade launched her tenth home run of the year to cut the Spartan deficit to 8-4. Alexis McDonaugh drew the only walk of the game off Jones and Bri McKeown singled to put Spartans at first and second with no outs. Jones buckled down and got a pop up and a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Emma Wade: 1-for-3, run, 3 RBI, HR (10)
Morgan Sauers: 1-for-3, run, RBI, HR (6)
Gretchen Barstad: 1-for-3, run
Daphney Adams: 1-for-3, run
Bri McKeown: 1-for-3
 
Spartan Pitching
Natalie Rietema: 1.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 ER, 1 K, 3 BB (Loss, 9-7)
Gretchen Barstad: 5.2 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 4 ER, 1 K, 6 BB
 
Game Two
Runs: York 9 – Susquehanna 0
Hits: York 9; Susquehanna 1
Errors: York 0; Susquehanna 1
LOB: York 4; Susquehanna 4
WP: Kyrsten Coppage (11-4); LP: Amanda Amerman (5-5)
 
How It Happened
• Spartan starter Kyrsten Coppage had to dance around of pair of first inning walks but she struck out the side to avoid any damage. The Spartans were able to strike early in the bottom of the first as Daphney Adams hit a booming double three quarters of the way up the left field wall to start a two-out rally. Emma Wade singled up the middle off the shortstop's glove. Adams was able to score from second with great base running for the 1-0 lead. Wade came around to score on an Alexis McDonaugh single to right for the 2-0 advantage.
• The Spartans put the game away in the fourth with a seven-run inning. Kylee Paules plated the first run of the inning with a squeeze bunt for an RBI. Emma Keller then ripped a pinch-hit RBI single to center. After the bases were loaded by a hit batter, the Spartans benefited from a two-run error by the River Hawks. Gretchen Barstad had a two-run double to right center to make it 8-0. McDonaugh singled to center to score Barstad for the 9-0 lead.
• Coppage closed out the game with a quiet fifth for the run-rule win for the Spartans.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Alexis McDonaugh: 3-for-3, 2 RBI
Gretchen Barstad: 1-for-2, run, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
Daphney Adams: 1-for-3, run, 2B
Emma Wade: 1-for-3, run, RBI
Kylee Paules: 1-for-2, run, RBI
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 5.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 run, 7 K, 3 BB, 2 HB (Win, 11-4)
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 21-41 all-time against the River Hawks … the Spartans are now 8-7 at home … the Spartans are 2-9 in their last 11 games … York reached 20 wins for the fourth time in as many full seasons under head coach Kaitlyn Dulac … York is now 13-3 when scoring in the first inning of a game and 7-8 when their opponent scores first … the Spartans are 17-2 when out-hitting and opponent and 1-12 when getting out-hit … in game two, the Spartans were 5-11 with runners in scoring position and 4-8 with two outs … first year hurler Kyrsten Coppage allowed a season-low one hit in her first innings as she struck out seven to earn her 11^th win of the year with her third shutout … junior Emma Wade continues to push the single season RBI record higher as she now has 61 RBIs, eight more than previous record holder Heather Bormann (2010) … Wade now has 10 home runs, which is third on the single season list … Daphney Adams tied the single-season doubles record with her 17^th two-bagger, tying the 2017 effort of Joanna Marmo … Gretchen Barstad drew her 21^st walk of the year as she is now fourth on the single season list … Barstad is also two runs away (46 runs) from tying Spartan Hall of Famer Joy Byers (48 runs in 2001) for the single season school record …  Alexis McDonaugh recorded her second career three hit game as she now has 10 multi-hit games for the year … Wade now has a team-leading 15 multi-RBI games this year.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return to Spartan Stadium on Thursday afternoon as they face Gettysburg in the conclusion of their April 9 suspended game followed by a scheduled contest. The action is set for a 2:00 pm start. The Spartans are leading the Bullets 6-1 in the top of the fifth inning.