BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lincoln Hower's (Kintnersville, PA/Faith Christian) 3-run homerun in the bottom of the 7th inning helped propel the Northampton baseball team past Camden County College, 12-9, on Friday afternoon at Spartan Park in game one of their 3-game Region 19 series. 

The Spartans led 12-4 entering the 9th and then held off a Camden rally to earn the victory, as Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) came on in relief to get the final 3 outs.  Diefenbach did not allow a run, striking out 2. 

Nathan Mostosky (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) got the win, going 6.2 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, striking out 8.  

With the Spartans leading 7-4 in the 7th, Hower homered, scoring Peter Hrousis (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) and Braden Cummings (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown), putting Northampton up 10-4.  Hower finished 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, Jack Smale (Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI and Cummings finished 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI to lead the Spartan offense. 

Hrousis and Cody Miller (Oxford, NJ/Warren Hills (NJ)) each finished 3 for 5 with 2 RBI. 

Northampton improves to 19-16 overall and 13-11 in Region 19. 

Camden falls to 22-14 overall and 14-13 in Region play. 

Games two and three of the series will be played on Sunday in Blackwood, NJ at Camden County College.