BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton baseball team split the final two games of their 3-game series vs. Salem Community College, dropping game one 6-4 and then taking game two 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Park. The Spartans had dropped game one of the series on Friday afternoon at Salem, 5-4, in 10 innings.
GAME ONE - Lost 6-4
The Spartans dropped game one of the Saturday doubleheader, with a 5-run 2nd inning for the Mighty Oaks spelling disaster for Northampton.
Northampton scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, but Salem scored 5 runs in the 2nd, including a grand slam.
Jake Black (Bethlehem, PA/Elizabethtown) took the loss, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits over 6 innings, striking out 6 and walking 1.
Shane Fillman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) was 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored,
Stephen McMillan (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks - South) was 2 for 3 with a RBI and
Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan (NJ)) was 2 for 3 with a RBI to lead the 11-hit attack for the Spartans.
GAME TWO - Won 4-3
Salem jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two, but the Spartans took the lead at 3-2 after scoring a run in the 3rd and 2 in the 4th.
The Mighty Oaks tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the 5th, setting the stage for Northampton's dramatic 1-run victory in the bottom of the 7th.
Brandon Ratti (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) led off the inning with a double.
Brody Hinkle (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York) then reached 1st on a error, moving Ratti to 3rd.
Jake Hendershot (Martinsville, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan (NJ)) then scored Ratti on an infield error to give Northampton the victory.
Ethan Woods (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) earned the win with 1 inning of work. Starter
Cole McGourty (Asbury, NJ/Voorhees (NJ)) went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 1.
Shane Fillman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) finished 3 for 3 with a RBI, Ratti had 2 hits and
Gabe Caso (Califon, NJ/West Morris Central (NJ)) was 1 for 3 with a run scored and RBI.
The split puts Northampton at 11-4 overall and 3-2 in Region 19.
The series win puts Salem at 6-6 overall and 2-1 in Region 19.
The Spartans are now off until Friday when they open their 3-game series vs. RCSJ-Gloucester, with a 9-inning match-up in Sewell, NJ.
