STEVENSON, Md. – The Stevenson University baseball team fell behind York (Pa.) College 9-0 after five innings but brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning before falling 9-6 Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Sugar Field.

The Mustangs (6-9) trailed 9-5 entering the bottom of the ninth when sophomore Matthew Kerber doubled to left center with one out, his third hit of the day. Kerber moved to third on a fly ball to right by senior Kevin Kopas, then after junior Billy Small walked, junior Michael Rhodes singled through the right side to plate Kerber, making it 9-6.  Small moved to third on the play.

With the tying run coming to the plate in the form of junior Kenny Armiger, the Spartans (8-3) went to the bullpen, summoning Jeff Noss.  Noss struck out Arminger swinging to end the game and pick up the save.

Stevenson, which trailed 9-0 after York put four runs up in the top of the fifth, got on the board with three runs in the sixth.  With one out, Kerber and Kopas reached on back-to-back singles, then Small doubled down the right field line to plate Kerber.  Kopas scored on a single to right by Rhodes, then Small scored as he came in the back door on a double steal with Rhodes to make it 9-3.

Small made it 9-5 in the seventh when his two-out triple down the line in right scored Kerber and Kopas.

York took a 2-0 lead in the second before scoring once in the third and two more times in the fourth.  In the fifth the Spartans scored four times, using three hits and an error along with two walks to increase their lead to 9-0.

Stevenson outhit York 11-10, with Kerber going 3-5 and Small and Rhodes each finishing with two hits, while Small drove in three runs and Rhodes two.

Freshman starter Kevin Kopec, making his collegiate debut, took the loss, going 2.2 innings and allowing four hits and three runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out one.  The Mustangs used five pitchers in the game, with junior Michael Remeikis going the final three innings and allowing just one hit and no runs while fanning five.

Bobby Kuehn improved to 2-1 for York, scattering nine hits in 6.2 innings while surrendering five runs, striking out four while walking two.

Stevenson is back in action Friday when it hosts Arcadia in a 3:30 MAC Commonwealth game at Sugar Field.