NEW ROCHELLE, NY-- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) For the first time since 2014 and the third time in program history, York College softball launched their campaign with a season-opening win Thursday evening, defeating the Yeshiva University Maccabees (0-2) on the by a final score of 27-11 from Flowers Park.  The Cardinals then made history, starting 2-0 for the first time by completing the non-conference sweep with a convincing 20-11 victory in game two.

Game 1: York 27, Yeshiva 11 (5 Inn.)

• Testing Yeshiva starter Hadassah Greenberg (L, 1-0: 4 IP, 11 H, 11 ER, 16 BB, 2 SO) early, the Cardinals drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch before Jeana Clemons' (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) single put York in the hits column. With the bases loaded, Michelle Mancuso (2-for-3, HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Samantha Panameo (2-for-4, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB) for York's 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• Tali Schimmel connected on a grand slam in the bottom of the first to give the Maccabees a 4-1 lead. 
• York exploded offensively with 11 second-inning runs. 16 batters came to the plate, as Tyla Hooks (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB), Mulazia Woods (2-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB, SB), and Panameno all produced RBI singles. Mancuso also grooved a grand slam in the middle of the rally.
• Yeshiva rallied for two runs in the bottom of the stanza to trim the deficit to six (12-6).
• In a lower-scoring third frame, the Cardinals entertained a seven-point edge (14-7) heading into the top of the fourth. 
• York added another big inning in the fourth, scoring 12 runs to put the game out of reach as 17 batters came to the plate, delivering six hits, including Clemons' two-run double to make it 21-7. Five batters later, Woods slapped a single to left field that scored two more to stretch the lead to 26-11.
• In the top of the fifth, Clemons singled up the middle to score Panameno for York's program-record 27th run, breaking the previous mark of 26 runs on April 22, 2008 against New York City College of Technology.
• Timely performances by Madison Plaza (1-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB), Alyssa De La Rosa (3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB), and Simranjit Kaur (0-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SB) also contributed to the win.
• Ayana Saavedra (W, 1-0) fanned six batters and was charged with six earned runs on 10 hits and five walks in a complete game effort.  She also helped her own cause at the plate with four runs, two RBI, and three walks. 
• Five Cardinals had two or more hits as York's offense flexed to the tune of 25 RBI, 19 walks, and six stolen bases.  
• Both teams drew even with a pair of extra-base hits, while York outhit Yeshiva, 12-10.
• Behind the plate, the Cardinals limited Yeshiva on the basepath to just one stolen base.  
• York took advantage of eight Yeshiva errors to score 16 unearned runs.

Game 2: York 20, Yeshiva 11 (5 Inn.)

• Clemons' (1-for-2, 3 BB, 3 R) fielder's choice plated Panameno (2-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI) in the opening frame for the game's initial run.
• Yeshiva leveled the score at one in the bottom of the first with Roth's (2-for-3, 3 R, RBI) RBI single.
• The Cardinals brought 11 batters to the dish and scored five runs in the second frame off starter Kayla Cagan (L, 0-2: 3 IP, 5 H, 11 ER, 13 BB, SO).
• Tali Finkelstein's run-scoring double and a solo shot by Maya Dennen trimmed the deficit to three (6-3) after two innings.
• A 2-run base knock from Amaniya Aiken (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI) capped off a six-run top of the third period, extending York's advantage to nine (12-3).
• Already allowing two runs, Saavedra (W, 2-0: 5 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) escaped further damage by striking out Layla Hellman and inducing a pop-up double play from Dennen to keep the scoreline at 12-5. 
• The Maccabees added a pair of runs in the fourth to make it 12-7.
• On the strength of six walks, three singles, and two stolen bases, the Cardinals scored eight runs in the top of the fifth to extend their advantage to 13 (20-7).
• Saavedra worked around a four-run bottom of the fifth to close out a 20-11 victory.
• Overall, York controlled the walk (20-4) and stolen base (5-1) categories, while Yeshiva recorded more hits (10-9) and extra-base knocks (2-1). 

Up Next
The Cardinals (2-0) continue their non-conference slate Saturday with a doubleheader on the road against the SUNY Old Westbury Panthers (0-0) starting at 12 p.m. from Jackie Robinson Athletic Complex.

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