PHILADELPHIA, PA – The York College softball team saw their 2024 season come to a close as they fell 5-1 in the championship game of the MAC Commonwealth tournament. The championship is the first in the history of the Eastern program.
York concludes the season with a mark of 26-18 while the Eagles are now 30-6 as they are heading to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Runs: York 1 – Eastern 5
Hits: York 0; Eastern 9
Errors: York 1; Eastern 1
LOB: York 1; Eastern 7
WP: Danika Barthol (16-2); LP: Kyrsten Coppage (14-6)
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans drew first blood in the top of the second. Alexis McDonaugh drew a four-pitch lead off walk. Devyn McFarland pinch ran for McDonaugh and promptly stole second. After a strikeout, McFarland stole third and came around to score when the catcher's throw got away for the 1-0 Spartan lead.
• That lead was short lived as Sydney Ostolaza homered to center, knotting the score at one through two full innings of play.
• The Eagles turned the tide of the game in the bottom of the third as they opened the frame with back-to-back hits. After a pop up for out number one Alyssa Binczak singled to load the bases with one out. Mackenzie Laub gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead with an infield single. After a pitching change, Tori Hook doubled to left center to clear that bases and give Eastern the 5-1 lead.
• That would be more than enough support for Eagle starter Danika Barthol as she carved up the potent Spartan line up. She would finish the game with a no-hitter as she struck out eight and walked two on 111 pitches. Barthol was named the Tournament MVP.
• York's offense consisted of a Daphney Adams first inning walk and a second inning walk to McDonaugh. Barthol retired the final 16 Spartans she faced in the game.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Daphney Adams: 0-for-2, BB
Alexis McDonaugh: 0-for-2 BB
Devyn McFarland: 1 run
 
Spartan Pitching
Kyrsten Coppage: 2.1 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 5 ER (Loss, 14-6)
Natalie Rietema: 3.2 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 BB
 
Spartan Notes
York is 14-7 all-time against the Eagles as Eastern took two of three games this year … the Spartans won 26 games, the most of the five-year Kaitlyn Dulac era … the Spartans have won at least 20 games in all four of the full seasons under Dulac … the Spartans have advanced to the MAC Commonwealth championship game in three of Dulac's four full seasons with two titles (2021 and 2023) … the Spartans were no-hit for the second time this year with the first time coming on April 13 in game two against Messiah … York is now 2-1 against Eastern in the Commonwealth tournament … York is now 14-5 all-time in the Commonwealth tournament … both of York's championships came as the three seed which is what the Spartans were this year … the Spartans finished with a number of single season records led by Emma Wade's 72 RBI which broke the record by 18 ribbies … Gretchen Barstad broke the school record for hits with 65, bettering Kelly Smith's previous record of 61 set in 2009 … Barstad's 54 runs scored also ranks first in single season history … Wade set a new standard in total bases with 109 while Barstad is now third with 102 …. Wade and Barstad are two of the three Spartans in school history to reach 100 total bases in a season … Daphney Adams set a new school record with 19 doubles, breaking Joanna Marmo's mark of 17 set in 2017 … Adams also scored 41 runs which ranks fouth on the single season list … Barstad's 23 walks ranks third all-time … Wade's 13 home runs ties for second on the single season list … Barstad's batting average of .464 ties her for fourth while her on-base percentage of .543 is second all-time … Wade's .845 slugging percentage is second all-time … Kyrsten Coppage finished her first year in the Green and White tied for fourth in single season wins with her 14 victories ... the game had a weather delay of well over two hours in the top of the fifth. 
 
Up Next
The loss concludes the 2024 Spartan campaign. The Green and White say good bye to graduate students Daphney Adams and Kylee Paules. Adams finishes her career as the school record holder in career doubles (56) and RBI (127), second in total bases (286), third in walks (69), and fourth in on-base percentage (.431) and hits (176). Paules concludes her career having played in 82 career games for the Green and White. The remainder of the Spartan roster is expected to return next year for York.