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March 27, 2005

Spartans sweep Bison

From: York Daily Record - York,PA,USA - Mar 27, 2005

YCP plates 23 runs and allows two in two wins over Gallaudet

By JEFF DEWEES
For the Daily Record/Sunday News
Sunday, March 27, 2005

Coming off Friday's doubleheader sweep at the hands of Rowan University — the unbeaten and top-ranked team in NCAA Division III — the York College Spartans needed to get their Easter weekend slate back on track.

Gallaudet University provided the perfect panacea.

York College ripped Gallaudet pitching for 23 runs and 31 hits over two games Saturday as the Spartans took a doubleheader from the visiting Bison by winning the first game 7-1, and the second 16-1.

York College improves to 14-6 overall, 3-2 in the Capital Athletic Conference. Gallaudet falls to 1-13, 0-5.

The Spartans had little trouble in either game.

York College rode a two-run home run by Mike Welch to a 6-1 lead after four innings in game 1, then the Spartans took advantage of five Bison errors over the first two innings of game 2 and jumped to a 9-0 lead.

Gallaudet committed as many errors, seven, as it had hits for the entire afternoon.

York College pitcher Josh Platt picked up the win in the first game. Teammate Steve Shanahan notched his first victory of the year, following two losses, in the second contest.

Spartan head coach Paul Saikia downplayed any link between Friday's sharp, but losing, performance against superior competition, and Saturday's sharp, dominating showing.

The main difference, of course, was the level of the competition.

"(Friday), we didn't swing the bats too well against Rowan," Saikia said. "But I thought we pitched effectively, especially considering how well they're playing.

"But I don't think you can say it had any impact on today."

Welch, a junior outfielder, mashed a two-run shot off Gallaudet starter Jeremy Dolan in the first game to open up some breathing room for his team in the bottom of the fourth.

After a slow start, Welch now has his batting average up around the .400 mark. Saturday's homer was his first of the season.

"Mike's been swinging the bat well," Saikia said. "I'm seeing more good swings out of him. He's starting to pick it up a bit now."

Jeff Moore added a solo shot for the Spartans.

Mike Festa relieved Platt in the fifth, to pick up the three-inning save.

The second game was not textbook baseball by any stretch. Gallaudet kicked the ball all around Jacquet Field, giving up nine runs over the first two innings.

Bison starter Tyson Zimmerman was the victim of porous defense behind him.

When he departed the mound in the fourth, his official earned-run average for the game was 0.00, despite trailing by nine runs when he left.

The party was foisted upon the Spartans, as opposed to them getting anything started themselves. The ball didn't leave the infield in the first inning until P.J. Valenza's double down the left field line with two out made it 5-0. Gallaudet committed three errors in the frame.

York College added three more runs in the second on two more gaffes, then hung on for the win.

Copyright © York Daily Record 2005