TOMS RIVER, NJ - The Northampton Softball team saw their 8-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, as the Ocean County College Vikings swept the Spartans, 13-5, 12-4, in a Region XIX doubleheader.
Errors plagued the Spartans in both games, as they committed 7 errors in game one and 5 in game two. In game one, the game was tied 2-2 after 1.5 innings, but Ocean scored 4 in the bottom of the 2nd and 7 in the 3rd to take a commanding 12-2 and they cruised to the 13-5 win.
Miranda Youngkin (Easton, PA/Easton) went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and
Courtney Maffia (Easton, PA/Easton ) was 2 for 2 with a triple and 2 runs scored to lead the Northampton offense.
Sierra Flurer (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) took the loss, going 5 innings, allowing 7 earned runs and striking out 2.
In game two, Northampton led 3-0 after the 1st inning, before Ocean added 4 in the 2nd. The Spartans tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the 3rd, but Ocean added 4 runs in the 4th, 1 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th to take the 12-4 victory.
Erin Happel (Bangor, PA/Bangor ) took the loss with 6 innings of work, allowing 7 earned runs and striking out 2.
Sierra Flurer (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) and
Courtney Maffia (Easton, PA/Easton ) each went 2 for 3 and
Samantha Santucci (Springfield, NJ/J. Dayton High (NJ)) finished 3 for 3 with 3 RBI (a bases clearing double in the 1st inning).
The sweep drops Northampton to 11-13 overall and 6-6 in Region XIX.
Ocean improves to 12-10 overall and 8-2 in Region XIX.
The Spartans are back in action when they travel to Scranton, PA on Monday to face the Lackawanna Falcons in an EPAC doubleheader scheduled for 3:30pm.