BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Despite 19 hits and 15 runs, the 11th ranked Northampton baseball team dropped a slugfest to RCSJ-Cumberland on Friday afternoon, falling 18-15 at Spartan Park, in game one of their Region 19 series.

In a back and forth affair that saw 37 hits and 33 runs combined from the two perennial Region 19 standouts, the Dukes were able to hold off the Spartans in the late innings for the victory.

The Spartans led 5-2 after 2 innings, but the Dukes responded with an 8-run 3rd inning that knocked Northampton starter Ryan Gordon (New Cumberland, PA/Red Land) out of the game.  

Northampton battled back with a 7-run 4th inning, highlighted by a double from Shane Fillman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall), to give the Spartans a 12-10 lead. 

After a scoreless 5th inning, Cumberland plated 5 runs in the 6th to take a 15-12 lead that they would not relinquish. 

Gordon took the loss on the hill, allowing 10 runs (8 earned) on 8 hits over 2.2 innings, striking out 2 and walking 3.  Ashton Johnson (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) worked 4 innings allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits and Tyler Sharayko (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) finished the final 2.1 innings, allowing 1 run and walking 3 batters. 

Shane Fillman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) led the offense with a 4 for 6, 5 RBI performance, Jeffrey Sabater (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) was 3 for 5 with a double and a triple, Stephan McMillan (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks - South) finished 3 for 6 and Gabe Caso (Califon, NJ/West Morris Central (NJ)) was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI.

The loss drops Northampton to 19-10 overall and 7-8 in Region 19. 

RCSJ-Cumberland improves to 12-16 overall and 9-9 in Region 19.

The two teams will be back at it on Saturday in Vineland, NJ for games two and three of the series.