BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton Baseball team celebrated their #7 national ranking with an 18-hit, 26-run offensive explosion against Delaware County on Tuesday afternoon, topping the Phantoms 26-1 to win their 13th consecutive game.

The Spartans scored 14 runs in the 4th inning, led by a 2-run homerun from Tyler "Big Country" Melko and then added 10 more runs in the 5th, highlighted by a Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) grand slam.  Melko finished 2 for 4 with 4 RBI, Lopez was 2 for 2 with 6 RBI, Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and Cody Herestofa (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) was 2 for 4 with 4 runs scored to lead the Big Orange Machine. 

Brendon Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) earned the win, improving to 3-1.  Caraway went 5 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits while striking out 7.  Erick Reyes (Allentown, PA/William Allen) pitched the final two innings of the run-rule shortened game, allowing 1 run on 1 hit while fanning 2.

Northampton improves to 20-3 overall, 8-0 in Region XIX and 7-0 in the EPAC.  

Delaware falls to 3-12 overall, 3-8 in Region XIX and 2-5 in conference. 

The Spartans are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Nanticoke, PA to face Head Coach Tom Carlin and his Luzerne Trailblazers, first pitch is set for 3:30pm.