YORK, PA – The York College baseball team dropped their second straight game to a nationally ranked team as #15 Misericordia downed the Spartans 18-7 in a MAC crossover contest on Wednesday in York.
The Cougars scored early and often as they plated 12 runs in the first four innings of the game.
Misericordia improves to 9-4 overall while the Spartans fall to 3-7.
 
Runs: York 7 – Misericordia 18
Hits: York 11 – Misericordia 18
Errors: York 3 – Misericordia 3
LOB: York 11 – Misericordia 14
WP: Max Kneidinger (2-0); LP: Bryce Shaffer (0-2)
 
How It Happened
• The Cougars got off to a hot start as they sent nine men to the plate in the first inning, as they  took an early 4-0 lead. Misericordia had six hits with two being infield hits as they seized control of the game early. York got a pair of runs back with some help from the Cougars as Misericordia had a pair of errors in the frame. York's first run came on a Michael Tinneny RBI double to right.
• Misericordia added two more runs in the top of the third. York got one of those runs back as Matthew Wade doubled and came around to score on a Lucas Prendergast RBI ground out. York trailed 6-3 after two innings of play.
• The Cougars continued their offensive onslaught with a single run in the third and then five in the fourth as the lead grew to 12-3. York got a single run back in the bottom of the fourth on a Luke Moser RBI single to left. Misericordia removed all doubt about the outcome of the game with another four runs in the fifth as the lead ballooned to 16-4. Wade had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth for the Spartans' fifth run of the game.
• York got a solo home run from Alex Neeld to lead off the eighth inning but the Cougars plated their final two runs of the game in the top of the ninth. York closed out the scoring in the bottom of the ninth as York scored on double play ground ball for the final 18-7 score.
 
Spartan Offensive Leaders
Michael Tinneny: 2-for-4, 1 run, RBI, 2B
Gabe Trevena: 2-for-3, 1 run
Matthew Wade: 2-for-2, 1 run, RBI, 2B
Lucas Prendergast: 1-for-4, 1 run, RBI
Alex Neeld: 1-for-2, 1 run, RBI, HR (1)
 
Spartan Pitching
Bryce Shaffer: 2.0 IP, 7 hits, 6 ER, 2 BB
Konner Reeser: 0.2 IP, 0 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB
Brian McDermott: 1.1 IP, 6 hits, 5 ER, 1 K, 1 HB
Eric Chaney: 0.2 IP, 3 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, HB
Jesse Bitzer: 3.2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, 1 HB
Jackson Kelley: 0.2 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
 
Spartan Notes
York is now 1-3 all-time against Misericordia … the Cougars are the defending Division III National Champions and currently ranked 15^th in the country … the Spartans are now 0-5 against nationally ranked teams this year … York's five opponents who have registered wins against the Spartans are a combined 46-16 for the year … the Spartans surrendered a season-high 18 runs in the loss … Misericordia's 18 hits were a season-high allowed by York … York walked nine, their second-highest total of the year … 14 of Misericordia's 18 hits were singles … York had another three errors as they now have 19 in 10 games this year … York was hit by another two pitches as they have been plunked 23 times in 10 games for the campaign … senior Jesse Bitzer had his best outing as a Spartan as he saved the bullpen with 3.2 innings of work late in the game …allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk … both of the runs against Bitzer came after he had left the game in the ninth … Bitzer needed 59 pitches to negotiate his 3.2 innings of work … Michael Tinneny extended his hit streak to 10 games while Gabe Trevena pushed his hit streak to seven straight … Tinneny collected his team-high fifth multi-hit game of the year … Matthew Wade had two more hits as he is four for his last five over the last two games … Tinneny and Jacob Deimling have both reached base safely in all ten games this season.
 
Up Next
The Spartans open up MAC Commonwealth play with their first conference series of the year this weekend against Albright College. The series starts on Friday afternoon in York with game one starting at 3:30 pm. The series shifts to Reading on Saturday for two games to close out the series. Game one on Saturday is set for a 12:00 pm first pitch.