BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The 10th ranked Northampton softball team split a top-10 showdown on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field vs. #6 RCSJ-Gloucester, taking game one 5-4 and dropping the nightcap 9-8 in 8 innings.
GAME ONE - Won 5-4
The Spartans fell behind 2-0 in game one, but responded with 3 runs in the 3rd, highlighted by a 2-run homerun from
Cassandra Schillo (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge).
Northampton added 2 runs in the 4th and held the Roadrunners off in the 7th to secure the 5-4 victory.
Sydney Harper (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) earned the win in the circle, going 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits, striking out 3.
Theresa Luongo (Lopatcong, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) pitched the final 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits.
Molly Devers (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) finished 1 for 2 with a RBI, a run scored and 2 stolen bases, while Schillo was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
GAME TWO - Lost 9-8 (8 innings)
In another tight ballgame, the Roadrunners were able to utilize an obstruction call in the top of the 8th inning to pull out a 9-8 victory in extra innings.
Tied at 6-6 entering the 8th, RCSJ-Gloucester scored 3 runs and the Spartans quickly answered with 2 of their own, but could not push the 3rd run across the plate.
Taylor Neumann (York, PA/York Suburban) takes the loss in relief of
Sydney Harper (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) and
Kamryn Tokar (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus). Neumann went 4.2 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned). Tokar started and went 3.0 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and Harper worked just 1/3 of an inning, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits.
Morgan Boyd (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South) hit a solo homerun and finished 1 for 4,
Shana Gugliandolo (Allentown, PA/Parkland) was 2 for 5 with a double and a RBI and
Cassandra Schillo (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 doubles.
The split puts Northampton at 13-7 overall and 7-1 in Region 19.
RCSJ-Gloucester moves to 12-7 overall and 8-2 in the Region.
The Spartans hit the road on Sunday, traveling to NJCAA Division II Lackawanna College for a doubleheader scheduled for 12pm.
