YORK, Pa. – The York College baseball team swept a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader over No. 7 Salisbury on Saturday afternoon at Jaquet Field by scores of 6-5 and 5-3.
A walk-off single by Colbe Herr (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) in game one and a two-home run day for Andrew Hershey (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) helped the Spartans improve their record to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the CAC. With the two losses, the Sea Gulls fall to 13-6 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
York got on the board first to open game one with a lead-off home run by Hershey to right field. The Spartans tacked on two more runs in the first frame as Herr scored on a Stephen Miele (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) triple and Miele trotted home after a sacrifice fly by Derek Pitzer (York, Pa./ Dallastown).
The Sea Gulls tied the score up 3-3 in the top of the fifth following two Spartan throwing errors and a single up the middle by Bobby Sanzone that knocked in Quinn Griffith for the tying run.
Miele put York back on top, 4-3, in the sixth with a solo shot to straightaway center field, clearing the 390-foot mark. The Spartans added another run in the seventh when Herr singled to center field to score Hershey.
Trailing 5-3 heading into the final frame, Salisbury knocked in two runs on three hits and forced the game to the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Hershey led off with a single up the middle and was moved to second following a sacrifice bunt by Brad Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area). The next batter up was Herr who singled to deep left center and knocked in Hershey for the game-winning run.
Miele picked up the win as he tossed one inning, allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts. He improves to 2-1 with the victory.
David Walker (Hanover, Pa./South Western)started the game for York as he went six and two-third innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and five walks.
Jon Schmedel was credited for the loss and falls to 0-1 as he threw two innings, allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Dan Fein started and went six and one-third innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Five Spartans recorded multi-hit performances in game one, led by Herr who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Both of Miele's two hits were of the extra-base variety as the junior recorded a triple and home run, in addition to two RBI and two runs scored. Hershey went 2-for-4 including a home run with one RBI and a game-high three runs scored.
Griffith led the Sea Gulls with a 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles and one RBI. Sanzone and Kyle Hayman each went 2-for-4 and combined for two RBI and one run scored.
In Game 2, Salisbury opened the tilt with one run on two hits in the first half inning of play. The Spartans responded in the second with one run and three hits that included a double by Pitzer and two singles by Colin Porter (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Russ Patti (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial).
York broke the lead open in the fourth with a three-run, three-hit inning. Scott Steffy (Downingtown, Pa./Dowingtown East) and Patti started the inning with back-to-back singles, then the Spartans used small ball to move both runners into scoring position. After Hershey was intentionally walked to load the bases, Wenzel poked a two-RBI single down the right field line. Hershey eventually scored the third run of the inning on a Sea Gull throwing error.
The Green and White added an insurance run to its lead in the sixth with solo home run by Hershey. The senior's second long ball of the day and third on the season gave York the 5-1 lead.
The Sea Gulls made a push in the top of the ninth with four hits, but were only able to produce two runs as York pulled off the two-game sweep with a 5-3 victory in game two.
Winning pitcher Elliot Mortimer (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) threw five innings, allowed one run on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Mortimer improves to 3-0.
Brett Collacchi received credit for the loss as he tossed five innings, allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Collacchi suffered his first loss of the season, as he is now 4-1.
Dan McNamara (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) picked up his first save of the year as he was called in to face one batter in the ninth.
Patti paced the Green and White as he went 3-for-4 with one run scored. Hershey and Pitzer each went 2-for-4 including a double by Pitzer and a home run by Hershey, and the duo combined for one RBI and three runs scored.
Salisbury totaled 14 hits and was led by Tom LaBriola who went 4-for-5 with a double and one RBI.
The Spartans will return to action on Sunday afternoon as they will face CAC newcomer PSU-Harrisburg at Jaquet Field. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.