Box Score LINCROFT, NJ - The 13th ranked Northampton baseball team dropped game one of their Region 19 series vs. #6 Brookdale, falling 7-3 at Jersey Blues Park on Friday afternoon. 

The Spartans jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage, plating 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but would not score again as Brian Williams of the Jersey Blues held Northampton scoreless over the remaining 8 innings of play.  Williams finished with 13 strikeouts and 1 walk in 9 innings of work, allowing 9 hits and 3 runs (0 earned). 

Ryan Gordon (New Cumberland, PA/Red Land) took the loss for Northampton, working 5.2 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks.  Austin Beard (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) and Daniel McEvoy (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) worked the final 2.1 innings.

Brandon Ratti (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) led the Spartan offense with a 2 for 5 performance, including a double and a run scored, while Shane Fillman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) finished 2 for 4 and Jeffrey Sabater (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) collected his 100th career hit as a Spartan, going 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. 

The loss drops Northampton to 13-8 overall and 5-6 in Region 19.

Brookdale improves to 18-5 overall and 5-2 in Region play. 

The two Region 19 foes are back at it on Saturday in Bethlehem, with games two and three of the Region 19 series set for 1pm and 3:30pm.