York, Pa. (March 19, 2022) - Alvernia University (4-4, 1-1) split its MAC Commonwealth opening series with the York College Spartans (4-3, 1-1) on Saturday, with Alvernia taking game one, 7-6, and York taking game two, 9-0.
Alvernia put up six runs in the fourth inning and held off a late seventh inning charge by the Spartans to take a 7-6 win in game one. In game two, York got off to a fast start and never looked back as the Spartans won 9-0.
In game one of the afternoon, a double to the right gap by Devan Hudson in the top of the first opened the scoring by driving in Julie Burkhardt.
The Spartans responded in their half of the first, putting up three runs on just one hit to go up 3-1.
Alvernia did not get a base runner again until the fourth inning when Jaclyn Barbera got things started with a one-out single to left. Kerstin Koenig followed that with a single to left of her own and Hope Robinson loaded the bases with a walk.
Tara Tumasz also reached on a bases loaded walk to bring in Barbera, and a single up the middle by Brooke Weister drove in Koenig to even the game at 3-3.
Sarah Reinert also reached on a bases-loaded walk to give Alvernia the 4-3 lead. On the next at bat, with the bases still loaded, Maggie Loomis knocked a bases clearing double to center field to give Alvernia the 7-3 advantage.
The Spartans got two back on back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the sixth to get within two, 7-5, going into the final frame.
Alvernia had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but could not get an insurance run across the plate.
The Spartans led off their half of the seventh with a double down the left field line, and brought a run in on a double to the left gap to get within one, 7-6, with no outs.
Alvernia forced a groundout back to Emma Kropkowski on the mound to record its first out of the inning, but the game tying run advanced to third base.
York then hit an infield fly for out number two, and Kropkowski struck out Meyer to secure the 7-6 win.
Loomis picked up the win on the mound with just over five innings of work, and Kropkowski earned the save. Loomis also led Alvernia with three RBIs.
In game two of the afternoon, the Spartans put up six runs on six hits in the first inning and never looked back. They added three runs on two hits in the second inning to take a 9-0 lead.
The Golden Wolves held the Spartans to two hits the rest of the rest of the way, but it would be too late.
Alvernia got one back on a bases loaded walk for Tumasz in the top of the fifth, but Alvernia would strand three runners to close out the fifth as York came away with the 9-1 win in five innings.
The Spartans held Alvernia to just one hit, a Burkhardt single, in game two.
Alvernia returns to action on Wednesday for a non-conference game against Misericordia.
