York, Pa (May 2nd, 2025) - York College (23-17) fended off a late comeback by Alvernia University (24-17) to secure a 13-10 victory over the Golden Wolves in game one of a MAC Commonwealth baseball semifinal Friday afternoon at York's Jaquet Field. 

The Spartan jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the first four innings but the Golden Wolves posted a six spot in the fifth inning to cut the lead to five, 11-6. York responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to push it up to a 7 run, 13-6 game. Alvernia bounced back again with four more runs in the top of the seventh but it was not enough as the Spartans secured the three run victory and took a 1-0 series lead. 

How it Happened 

• York posted a four spot in the home half of the first inning after an RBI single, a fielder's choice that scored a run and a two RBI single put the Spartans up 4-0 early in the ballgame. 
• The Spartans picked right up again in the second inning with three more runs, all three of which came off homers to push the lead to 7-0. 
• York continued to control the game and shut the Golden Wolves down in the third and fourth innings while also adding two runs in the third and fourth to make it an 11-0 ballgame after four innings of baseball.
• The Golden Wolves fired back in the top of the fifth inning and threw down a six spot to chase York's starter Evan Hughes and cut it to a five run game. RJ Emrich led the inning off with a single to left and then Mike Pulcini and Quincy Esannason both worked walks to load the bases. Jake Chapman then worked a pinch hit walk of his own to force Alvernia's first run of the ballgame. 
• Logan Nelson then stepped up to the plate and laced a bases clearing, three RBI double into the left center gap and made it 11-4 Spartans. Evan Thomas followed suit and ripped an RBI double of his own to left field that scored Nelson, cut the lead to six, and forced York's manager Mike Scappa to yank his starter and turn to the bullpen. Harold Ivery III capped the six run inning off with an RBI single to second after legging out an infield single and made it 11-6. 
• The Spartans responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to halt Alvernia's momentum and push it back to a seven run ballgame, 13-6.
• Alvernia sparked another rally in the top of the seventh inning after three singles at the start of the inning loaded the bases for Ivery III. Ivery III then worked a bases loaded walk and forced in a run to make it 13-7. Emrich and Pulcini followed Ivery III with back to back RBI singles and Esannason tallied a sacrifice fly to center to pull the Golden Wolves within three, 13-10. 
• York's bullpen would shut down the Alvernia offense in its final two at bats to secure the three run, 13-10 victory over the Golden Wolves and take a 1-0 series lead in the semifinal. 

Alvernia Pitching: 

• Chris Sasso: (L, 3-3) - 2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Grant Fitzgerald: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB
• James Wauters: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB
• Colin Ray: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB
• Matt Drubulis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K
• Brody DeGroodt: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB

Alvernia Offensive Leaders:

• Logan Nelson: 4-5, 3 RBI, 2 RS, 2B
• Harold Ivery III: 1-4, 2 RBI, RS
• Evan Thomas: 1-5, RBI, 2B, RS
• Quincy Esannason: 0-1, RBI, RS, SF, 3 BB
• RJ Emrich: 2-5, RBI, RS

Up Next 

• Alvernia is back at it tomorrow for the rest of the MAC Commonwealth baseball semifinal series with the Spartans. Game two is set for an 11:00 AM start.