GALLOWAY, N.J. – The York College baseball squad got a great pitching performance and some timely hitting to hand Richard Stockton College their first loss of the season, 5-3, on a cold and blustery Friday afternoon in Galloway, N.J.
The Spartans improve to 2-1 while the Osprey fall to 3-1 for the campaign.
The Green and White opened the scoring in the top of the third courtesy of a two-run single to left from junior centerfielder Andrew Hershey (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor). Drew Frankenfield (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) would single behind Hershey but the Spartans wouldn't be able to add to the initial two runs in the frame.
Senior captain Josh Kohn (Derwood, Md./Col. Zadock Magruder) drew the start and was fantastic in the first start of his career. Kohn allowed singles in the first and second innings but kept the Osprey off the board. Kohn then cruised through the next three innings as he was in total control of the game.
The Osprey finally got to Kohn in the sixth but it wasn't the fault of the senior left-hander. The Spartans committed two errors in the inning that led to all three Richard Stockton runs in the inning being unearned.
The Spartans wasted little time in responding as Colin Porter (Hanover, Pa./South Western) started the game-winning rally with a one-out single in the seventh. Senior Dustin Worthman (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) singled to center, moving Porter to second. Hershey then plated Porter with a single to right center, tying the game at three. After a flyout advanced Worthman to third, the senior second baseman scored on wild pitch. Hershey eventually came around to score on a Stockton error as the Spartans took the 5-3 lead.
Tyler Alexander (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), who closed out the sixth for York, threw the seventh to earn the win. Andrew Tucci (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) got two strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to earn the win. The game was called in the top of the ninth due to darkness.
Kohn tossed a career-high 5.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks in the no decision. Alexander threw 1.1 innings as he improves to 1-0. Alexander allowed no runs on three hits. Tucci hit a batter but was otherwise clean in the eighth to earn the save.
Adam Warburton suffered the loss as he allowed five runs, four earned, on eighth hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 6.1 innings of work. He falls to 0-1 with the loss. Bill Barron tossed the final 1.2 as he allowed one hit during his outing.
Hershey finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Porter added two hits and a two runs scored while catcher Colbe Herr (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) also had a pair of knocks and a run scored.
Justin Gordon, Brett Solomen and Andy Olver each had two hits for Stockton. Solomen and Oliver each had RBIs in the loss.
The Spartans finished the game committing five errors but were still able to prevail.
York heads to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where they will play four games at the Ripken Experience during the York College spring break next week. York opens the four-game set on Monday evening when they face North Carolina Wesleyan in a 6:00 pm contest.