MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Northampton baseball team used a 7th inning rally to earn a 3-2 victory over Lakeland College (OH) in their 2017 season opener on Sunday afternoon at the Ripken Complex. 

Trailing 2-1 entering the top of the 7th, Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) lead off the inning with a single and a stolen base.  Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) then drove Ramirez home with a single to tie the game at 2-2.  Brown advanced to second base on a passed ball, advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly from Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) and then scored, what proved to be the winning run, on a wild pitch. 

Tyler Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades), who had come on in relief of Tyler Forbes (Athens, PA/Athens) in the 6th inning, had runners on the corners with only one out, but forced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and give the Spartans the thrilling 3-2 victory.  "What can I say about these guys," remarked Head Coach Adrian Yaguez, "they never gave up ... they kept fighting and eventually good things happened.  We had a lot of typical first game issues, including 3 errors, but I love the fact that we fought thru the adversity to get a victory over a very good team."

Brown finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base, Cody Herestofa (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) was 1 for 1 with a double and Ramirez was 1 for 3 to pace the Spartans, who finished with 4 hits on the day.  Starter Tyler Forbes (Athens, PA/Athens) received a no-decision, going 5 innings, allowing 2 unearned runs, 2 hits and striking out one.  Caraway got the victory in relief, going 2 innings, allowing no runs and no hits, striking out 2 and walking 3. 

Northampton improves to 1-0 on the season, while NJCAA Division II member Lakeland, falls to 3-3. 

The Spartans spring trip schedule is somewhat unsettled at this point, as weather in Myrtle Beach is playing havoc on scheduling for teams at the Ripken Complex.