BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton Baseball team won their home opener on Wednesday afternoon, downing Luzerne County Community College 13-8.

The Spartans pounded out 17 hits en route to a 13-4 lead entering the top of the 9th inning, before Luzerne plated 4 runs.  Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) finished 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) went 3 for 5 to lead the Spartan attack. 

Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) opened the scoring for Northampton, slamming a 2-run homerun, his 4th of the season, in the bottom of the 1st inning to put the Spartans up 2-0. The Spartans added 2 more runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) laced a 2-run single scoring Ramirez and Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock).  Doubles by Hooker, Ferrara and Christian Del Toro (Trujillo Alto, PR/Perkiomen School ) highlighted a 4 run 6th inning as Northampton held a 10-4 lead entering the 7th. 

Tyler Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the season, allowing runs on 6 hits in 5.2 innings of work.  Zach Conley (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury), Liam Grande (Trappe, PA/Perkiomen Valley), Erick Reyes (Allentown, PA/William Allen) and Garrett Alread (Victor, NY/Victor Central (NY)) all saw work in relief. 

The victory moves Northampton to 10-3 overall, 4-0 in Region XIX and 2-0 in the EPAC.  The Spartans are now 8-1 all-time vs. the Trailblazers, outscoring their conference foes 75-17 in those nine games. 

Luzerne falls to 2-5 overall, 1-5 in Region XIX and 1-1 in conference play. 

The Spartans are scheduled to return to action on Thursday when they host Lehigh Carbon Community College at 3:30pm.