EDISON, NJ - The Northampton Spartans kept their postseason hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep of Middlesex County College (15-13) on Thursday.

Shane Solimani threw an 8-inning complete game, scattering five hits while striking out two and walking only one to earn his 3rd victory of the season, as the Spartans took game one 7-3 in extra innings.

With the game tied at 3, Keith Sacarakis led off the 8th inning with a solo homerun, followed by a RBI single from Rich Pohl and back-to-back sacrifice flyes from Sam Carfi and Brian Del Rosso, as NCC scored four runs in the top of of the 8th.

Solimani went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI's while Sacarakis finished 2-for-3 with a double and homerun.

The Spartans got another pitching gem in game two, as Ron Vail tossed a complete game shutout, striking out five, walking one and holding Middlesex to four hits, to lead NCC to a 4-0 victory.

Kevin Steiner had a RBI single in the 2nd inning and Rich Pohl delivered a RBI single in the 4th as the Spartans jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Sacarakis hit his second homerun of the afternoon in the 5th inning, a 2-run shot that extended the Spartans lead to 4-0.  That proved to be more than enough for Vail, who improved to 2-1 on the season.

Greg Kolaronda was 2-for-3 with a double and and two runs scored and Rich Pohl finished 2-for-3 with a double, stolen base and an RBI.

Northampton improves to 7-9 overall and 6-6 in Region XIX.  The Spartans need to finish at .500, or better, in Region XIX to qualify for postseason play.  

NCC travels to nationally-ranked Gloucester County College on Saturday and then hosts Cumberland County College on Sunday at 1pm.