BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, Northampton and Brookdale split a Region XIX doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

In game one, the 5th ranked Jersey Blues scored two runs in the top of the first on RBI doubles from Luis Clemente and Leiby Gonzalez.

Brookdale added two runs in the top of the 7th on a wild pitch and a RBI single from Gonzalez to take a 4-0 lead.

The Spartans managed to score a run in the bottom of the 7th on a double by Mike Tenaglia and a RBI single from Billy Turner, to make the final score 4-1.

Matt Smith (2-1) took the loss for NCC, allowing 3 earned runs and 9 hits in 7 innings of work.

Matt Yuhas (4-0) earned the victory on the mound for Brookdale, scattering 3 hits and allowing 1 run in 6 1/3 innings of work.

The 7th ranked Spartans bounced back in game two to take a thrilling 5-4 victory in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Brookdale led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th, when Richie Eilenberger walked, Joey Bamford singled and Christian Joest singled to load the bases with no outs.  Mike Tenaglia grounded out to first base, scoring Eilenberger to make the score 4-2 and advancing Bamford and Joest.  An Eric Bohem sacrifice fly to left field scored Bamford to make it 4-3 with 2 outs.  Catcher Kyle Dauscher the lined a single to center field, scoring Joest to tie the game at 4-4.

In the top of the 7th, Head Coach Adrian Yaguez replaced Anthony Casciano with reliever Aaron Barry.  Barry gave up a lead off double to Joe Post (7 for 8 on the day) and then proceeded to strike out the side to keep the game tied.

Elliot Freeman led off the bottom of the 7th with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball.  A infield single by Ryan Mickley advanced Freeman to third, setting up the dramatic finish.  Richie Eilenberger laid down a squeeze bunt to score Freeman and give the Spartans the 5-4 victory.

NCC improves to 16-4 overall and 7-1 in Region XIX, while Brookdale is now 20-8 overall and 5-2 in the Region.