SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. - The Northampton Softball team split a Region XIX doubleheader with Lehigh Carbon Community College on Thursday afternoon, taking game one 2-1, then falling 8-7 in 9 innings in game two. 

GAME ONE - In a true pitcher's duel, Northampton's Erin Happel (Bangor, PA/Bangor ) went 7 innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 6 as the Spartans prevailed 2-1.  The game was scoreless until the 6th inning when Abby Monks (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh ) reached on a bunt and then scored on a RBI triple from Happel.  Darion Jacoby (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton ) then hit a sacrifice fly to score Happel, giving Northampton a 2-0 lead.  

The Cougars got a run in the bottom of the 6th, but Happel closed the door in the bottom of the 7th to secure the victory.  Happel finished 1 for 3 at the plate with a RBI. 

GAME TWO - The Spartans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but LCCC battled back and the game eventually went into extra innings tied at 4-4.  Neither team scored in the 8th inning, but Northampton was able to plate 3 runs in the top of the 9th, as Monks (who started on 2nd per the international tie-breaker rule), scored off a hit from Darion Jacoby.  Jacoby then scored off of a Miranda Youngkin (Easton, PA/Easton) hit, and then Youngkin scored off a single from Happel.

The Spartans entered the bottom of the 9th with a 7-4 lead, but the Cougars were able to manufacture 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the gut-wrenching 8-7 victory.  Youngkin finished 3 for 5  with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base and Sierra Flurer (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) was 2 for 4.  

The split moves Northampton to 12-16 overall, 7-7 in Region XIX and 3-3 in the EPAC. 

Lehigh Carbon is now 7-7 overall, 3-5 in Region XIX and 3-3 in conference play. 

The Spartans have a big weekend, hosting Middlesex County College on Saturday at 11am and Camden County College on Sunday at noon.