COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. – The York College baseball team saw Pacific University post a come-from-behind 4-3 win in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Division III Collegeville Regional in Collegeville, Minnesota on Friday.

The Spartans led 2-0 early but the Boxers scored four unanswered runs before York put up a run late to make it close.

Pacific improves to 32-13 overall and advance to face the second seeded UT-Dallas Comets on Saturday. The Spartans fall to 28-9 and now face top seeded St. Thomas in Saturday's second round.

COLLEGEVILLE REGIONAL GAME #3

Hits: York 7, Pacific 13

Errors: York 2, Pacific 0

2B: York 1, Pacific 4

3B: York 0, Pacific 0

HR: York 1, Pacific 0

LOB: York 5, Pacific 12

WP: Will Clark (8-0) LP: Brandon Haggerty (10-1) Save: Davis Koester (5)

How it Happened

• Both starters were very effective early in the game. York's Brandon Haggerty had to work out of an early jam due to a walk and an error but held the Boxers off the board in the first. He had to deal with some more traffic in the second and third innings but was up to the task as he kept Pacific off the board.

• Boxer starter Will Clark was also outstanding early as he held the Spartans hitless the first time through the lineup. York got to him in the third as he walked Brian Jakubek with one out. Austin Denlinger then blasted his 19^th home run of the year down the left field line, picking up York's first hit and ending the shutout.

• The Boxers got on the board in the top of the fourth with doubles from Tanner Johnson and Chase Anderson as they sliced the York lead in half, 2-1.

• Pacific tied the game in the top of the sixth as Tanner Johnson singled to open the frame. He moved to second on a Brad Altomare single to left center. Johnson then caught the Spartans napping as Anderson ripped a deep fly ball to center. Johnson tagged and came all the way around from second to score, tying the game at one.

• The Boxers got some well-placed hits in the top of the seventh to push in front. With two outs in the frame, catcher Isaac Lovings singled to center. Jordan Hara then hit blooped a double inside the right field line to put runners at second and third. Tyler Quinn then beat out an infield single on a very close play at first to score Lovings for the Boxers' third run of the game.

• The Boxers used some more two out magic in the top of the eighth. Anderson singled to center, stole second and scored on another tough call at first base. Third baseman Craig Wiley made a throw to first baseman Jack Barry and Barry had to stretch to make the play. Barry went to the ground and the first base umpire ruled he had pulled his foot. Anderson alertly came around to score, giving the Boxers a big insurance run.

• The Spartans got a run back in the bottom of the eighth as Jakubek singled to lead off the inning. Jayden Cowan hit into a fielder's choice, erasing Jakubek at second. After a strikeout, Barry had a great at-bat, drawing a walk to put Spartans at first and second. Joe Capobianco then stroked a single over the shortstop's head to score Cowan with the Spartans' third run of the game.

• Pacific's David Koester came in and earned the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning as he struck out the side to preserve the win.

Spartan Leaders

Senior Brandon Haggerty suffered his first loss of the year as he allowed three runs on 12 hits with six strikeouts and a walk … Haggerty needed 106 pitches to navigate the evening … Tim Halasnik threw 1.1 innings, allowing an unearned run on a hit … Conor Miller threw the final inning with two strikeouts and a walk … Austin Denlinger was 1-for-4 with a run scored  and two RBI on his 19^th home run of the year … the home run ties him for the national lead with teammate Jack Barry … senior Jimmy Wiegers was 2-for-4 with two singles for the Spartans … Barry went 1-for-2 with his sixth double of the year … Joe Capobianco had a hit and the Spartans' other RBI in the game … Brian Jakubek was 1-for-2 with a run scored for York.

Notes

The Spartans have now lost five straight NCAA Tournament games … their last NCAA win came in the 2009 Salisbury regional when they beat North Carolina Wesleyan 12-1 in the opening round … Pacific banged out 13 hits in the game … that marked the 14^th time this year that an opponent has had double digits in hits … the Spartans added to their school record home run total with Austin Denlinger's third inning blast as York now has 55 home runs in 37 games … the Spartans have been held in single digits in runs in their last five games York struck out 10 times in the game and have struck out 22 times in their last two games … York has lost a season-high three straight after capturing the MAC Commonwealth Championship on May 15.

Up Next

The Spartans have a big hill to climb to stay in the tournament as they face the top-seeded St. Thomas Tommies in their second round game on Saturday. The Tommies won their opener 8-4 and the Spartans will need to earn a win to stay in the tournament. Game time is set for 3:30 pm eastern on Saturday.