BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Typically a doubleheader sweep over a Division II opponent, including a comeback from a 6-0 deficit with a walk-off double in extra innings in the second game, would be the highlight of a college baseball team's day ... but Saturday was not like any other day, as the Spartan Baseball team joined the
"Focht Fight" today in raising funds for former Northampton vice-president, and current DeSales professor Dr. Jeff Focht. Dr. Focht is fighting stage IV brain cancer and the baseball teams at Northampton and DeSales took it upon themselves to declare April 15th "Jeff Focht Day" as both teams hosted doubleheaders at their respective fields to raise money for Dr. Focht and his family.
GAME ONE - In the opener, the Spartans rode the right arm of
Tyler Forbes (Athens, PA/Athens) for 6 innings and then exploded for 12 runs in the 6th inning to take a 18-4 victory over Raritan Valley Community College. Forbes finished with 6 innings of work, 4 runs allowed on 4 hits with 9 strikeouts.
Liam Grande (Trappe, PA/Perkiomen Valley) came on in relief, finishing with 1 inning of work, 0 runs, 0 hits and 1 strikeout.
Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) got things going for the Spartans with his first homerun of the season in the bottom of the 2nd. The Spartans were clinging to a slim 6-4 lead in the 6th inning when they erupted for 12 runs, highlighted by
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School)'s 7th homerun of the season.
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) finished 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, Lopez was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, and
Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) was 2 for 5 with a double as Northampton finished with 14 hits.
GAME TWO - In the nightcap, the Lions jumped out to a 6-0 lead, knocking starter
Garrett Alread (Victor, NY/Victor Central (NY)) out of the game after 2.2 innings of work. The Spartans slowly worked their way back into the contest, finally tying it at 6-6 on a
Cody Herestofa (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) solo homerun in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Herestofa was not done with his late-game heroics, hitting a walk-off double in the bottom of the 8th inning to score
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) and give the Spartans the 7-6 victory.
Colton Langworthy (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) earned the victory in relief of Alread (2.2 innings, 6 runs, 5 earned, on 8 hits with 3 K's), going 5.1 innings, allowing no runs on 4 hits to earn his 3rd victory of the season.
Herestofa finished 2 for 3,
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and
Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) was 1 for 3 with a triple and RBI to pace Northampton.
The Spartans, who have now won 11 consecutive games, improve to 18-3 overall, while Raritan Valley falls to 2-13.
The 10th ranked Spartans return to action on Monday when they host Lehigh Carbon Community College at 3:30pm.
