ROCHESTER, NY - A five-hour bus ride proved to be just what the doctor ordered as the Northampton Baseball team pounded out 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of perennial Division II power Monroe Community College on Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE - Northampton jumped out early in game one, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st and scored runs in 6 of the 7 innings to earn a convincing 14-6 victory over the Tribunes.
Brendon Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) earned the win, going 5 innings, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits while striking out 7.
Zach Conley (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) came on in relief, throwing 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while fanning 2 batters.
Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) finished 2 for 4 with a double, a RBI and 3 runs scored,
Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) was 3 for 4,
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) was 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI,
Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) was 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI and
Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) added 2 RBI and a 2 for 5 performance.
GAME TWO - The nightcap added a little excitement, as the Spartans rallied from a 6-2 deficit in the top of the 7th, scoring 7 runs to secure an amazing come-from-behind 9-7 victory and sweep the doubleheader.
Monroe held Northampton scoreless through 4 innings, before the Spartans were able to plate 2 runs in the top of the 5th to make the score 3-2 Tribunes. Monroe then added 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning to increase their lead to 6-2 entering the 7th inning. Singles by
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East),
Christian Del Toro (Trujillo Alto, PR/Perkiomen School ),
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) and
Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) opened the floodgates in the 7th.
Ferrara finished 3 for 3 with a RBI, Hooker was 2 for 4 with a double and
Zane Vargason (Milan, PA/Athens) went 1 for 3.
Starter
Liam Grande (Trappe, PA/Perkiomen Valley) went 5 innings, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4. Rochester native
Garrett Alread (Victor, NY/Victor Central (NY)) earned the win in relief with 2 innings of work, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 3.
Northampton improves to 12-3 overall, while Monroe falls to 9-13.
The Spartans will finish their Region III road trip on Sunday when they travel to Corning, New York to face the Red Barons in a doubleheader starting at noon.
