BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In a NJCAA Top-4 showdown that lived up to the hype, the 4th ranked Northampton baseball team scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to top #1 RCSJ-Gloucester, 10-9, and clinch their best of three series, 2 games to 1.
After splitting the first two games of their Region 19 series, the perennial powerhouse programs met for the rubber match on Monday afternoon at Spartan Park.
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th, before the Spartans erupted for 5 runs, highlighted by a bases clearing double from
Samuel Martinez (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg), giving Northampton a 7-5 lead.
RCSJ-Gloucester scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th to tie the game, but the Spartans answered with a run in the bottom of the 8th to regain the lead at 8-7.
The defending national champion Roadrunners would not quit, adding 2 runs in the top of the 9th to take a 9-8 advantage.
Trailing 9-8 in the bottom of the 9th, the Spartans had the bases loaded with 1 out with
Peter Hrousis (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) at the plate. Hrousis laced a ground ball to 3rd base, which was fielded and thrown to 2nd base to get the second out of the inning, but the ensuing throw to 1st base for an attempted double-play, skipped away from the 1st baseman, allowing
Brody Hinkle (Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York) to score from 3rd and
Robert Furino (East Stroudsburg, PA/Pocono Mt. East) from 2nd, to give Northampton the heart-stopping victory.
"Really proud of the guys," stated Head Coach Adrian Yaguez, "there is no quit in this group, they will battle until the end."
Alexander Ruiz (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) was 3 for 5 with a double, while
Braden Cummings (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown) finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
Brandon Ratti (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) picked up the win, pitching the 9th inning. Starter
Logan Magdits (Nazareth, PA/Pen Argyl) went 6 innings, allowwing 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits, walking 3 and striking out 2.
Ellis Snow (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) threw 2 innings, allowing 2 runs, scattering 3 hits.
Northampton moves to 17-2 overall and 5-1 in Region 19.
RCSJ-Gloucester falls to 19-4 overall and 14-3 in the Region.
The Spartans are back in action Tuesday as they host Middlesex in game one of their 3-game series, first pitch is scheduled for 3:30pm.
