BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The 6th ranked Northampton baseball team opened up Region 19 play with a convincing, run-rule shortened, 11-1 victory over Salem Community College in game one of their three game series on Thursday afternoon at Spartan Park.

Starter Ethan Woods (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) picked up his 3rd victory of the season, allowing 1 run (none earned) on 3 hits over 6 innings, striking out 12.  Mason Sgarlat (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) pitched a scoreless 7th inning as the Spartans plated 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to earn the run-rule shortened victory. 

Braden Cummings (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown) was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored and Alexander Ruiz (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) finished 3 for 3 with a walk and a RBI as the Spartans pounded out 14 hits in the win.

The Spartans improve to 12-1 overall and 1-0 in Region 19. 

Salem falls to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the Region.

Games two and three of the series will be played at Salem on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 12pm in Carneys Point, New Jersey.