SALISBURY, MD – The York College baseball team opened their Capital Athletic Conference season with a 10-3 setback at Salisbury University on Saturday afternoon. The Sea Gulls improve to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference while the Spartans fall to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the league.
The Sea Gulls reached Spartan starter Joey Couch for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, three in the second and three more in the third as they surged to the early 8-0 lead. The Spartan defense didn't help as they committed three errors while Couch had three walks in the first three frames.
The eight runs would be more than enough for Sea Gull starter Chris Greiner as he cruised through the first six innings before the Spartans mounted a rally in the top of the seventh. Senior CT Stanley opened the rally with a single through the left side to open the inning. Joe Doyle then doubled to right center to put Spartans at second and third with no outs. Greiner then got a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to extricate himself from the Spartan uprising.
The Spartans finally broke up the shutout in the eight as junior Dustin Worthman reached on an error to open the frame. After a ground out, junior Steve Tretter walked as Greiner's day was done. Sophomore Justin Cohen then jacked a three-run homer to right, cutting the Spartan deficit to 8-3.
The Sea Gulls picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to provide for the final 10-3 margin.
Greiner earned the win as he allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits in 7.1 innings of work. He improves to 1-0 as he struck out four and walked one. Drew Baldwin tossed the final 1.2 innings as he allowed a run on three hits with one strikeout.
Couch suffered his second loss of the year as he allowed eight runs, three earned, on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. He walked four and did not strikeout a batter as he falls to 0-2.
Tyler Bennett led the Sea Gull offense as he was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Brad Baylis also had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI while Matt Beck was the third Gull with multiple hits as he was 2-for-3.
Cohen finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. His home run was his first of the season and the first of the year for the Green and White. Stanley and Doyle each added two hits for the 11-hit Spartan attack.
The Spartans and Sea Gulls conclude their three game series on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader. Both games will be seven innings and game one is slated for a 12:00 pm first pitch.