BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The 10th ranked Northampton softball team earned a split of their doubleheader vs. NJCAA Division II Salem Community College on Tuesday afternoon, dropping game one 3-2 and winning the nightcap 8-6.
GAME ONE - Lost 3-2
Salem was able to score a run in the top of the 7th to break a 2-2 tie and earn the 3-2 win in game one.
Theresa Luongo (Lopatcong, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) took the hard luck loss, going 3.0 innings in relief, allowing 1 unearned run on 1 hit. Starter
Kamryn Tokar (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) pitched 4.0 innings, scattering 5 hits and allowing 2 runs.
Chelsea Melkowits (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Township) led the 7 hit attack, finishing 2 for 4 with a run scored, while
Hannah Karc (Wind Gap, PA/Nazareth) was 1 for 4 with a double.
GAME TWO - Won 8-6
Sydney Harper (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) came on in relief in the 2nd inning and pitched the final 6.0 innings of the game, allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 4, to earn the win. Starter
Theresa Luongo (Lopatcong, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) pitched the 1st inning, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits.
Trailing 4-0 entering the 4th, the Spartans plated 3 runs to cut the deficit to 4-3, but the Mighty Oaks responded with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 5th.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the 5th,
Morgan Boyd (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South) hit a 3-run homerun, scoring
Cassandra Schillo (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) and
Zoe Holbert (Enola, PA/East Pennsboro), to tie the contest at 6-6.
Morgan Rissmiller (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) than doubled, scoring Kamyrn Tokar to give Northampton a 7-6 lead. Rissmiller then scored on a Melkowits single, to make it 8-6.
Harper shut the door in the 6th and 7th as the Spartans earned the come from behind victory.
Boyd finished 2 for 4 with 3 RBI,
Jenna Geiger (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) was 1 for 2 with a double and 2 RBI.
The non-conference split moves Northampton to 6-4 overall, while Salem is now 21-5.
The Spartans are back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader vs. Penn St. Hazleton at 3:30pm.