BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton baseball team rode the right arm of sophomore pitcher Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) to complete a double-header sweep and win the three-game series, 2-1, over the visiting Mighty Oaks of Salem Community College on Thursday afternoon at Spartan Park.

The Spartans, coming off a 12-2 loss on Wednesday, bounced back to sweep the Thursday double-header with a, 6-5, extra-inning win and a come from behind, 4-2, win behind Diefenbach's 2-hit and 9 strikeout complete game effort.

GAME ONE vs SALEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WON 6-5 in 8 INNINGS)
Sophomore Lefty Juan Cruz (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) (2-1) picked up the win in Game 1 of the double-header, firing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only 1-hit and fanning 5. Cruz came into the game behind starter Carver Perrone (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) in the Top of the 6th inning with the bases loaded and 1 out. The Mighty Oaks were able to push two runs across to tie the score, 5-5, as Cruz worked out of the jam.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, with the score tied, 5-5, Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) reached on an error to get things going for the Spartans. Shane Henrick (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Stoner to second base. Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) advanced to third base with two outs on a passed ball and two pitches later raced home with the winning run on a wild pitch, giving the Spartans the dramatic, 6-5 win in extra innings.

Shane Henrick (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) was 1-3 with a run scored and a double and Joey Richards (Bath, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) was 2-2. Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was 1-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Danny Qualteria (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) was 1-4 with a stolen base and Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) was 1-3 to help lead the Spartans offense.

GAME TWO vs SALEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WON 4-2)

Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) (2-0) was the headliner for the Spartans as the big righty fired his second consecutive complete game, going 7 strong innings against the visiting Mighty Oaks, allowing only two hits and striking out 9 for the win. Diefenbach now has 100 career K's as a Spartan.

Entering the bottom half of the 5th inning, trailing 2-1, the Spartans were able to push three runs across the plate to take the eventual game winning lead, 4-2. Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) singled to start the inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Mulligan scored to the tie the game, 2-2, coming home to score on a one out double to the left centerfield gap off the bat of Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)). Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) then delivered the big blow, a two out two-run home run to left field, putting the Spartans ahead for good, 4-2.

Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) was 3-3 with an RBI double and a run scored and Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) was 2-2 with a 2-run home run and 2 RBI to lead the Spartans 10-hit attack. John Pushkar (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) was 2-3 with an RBI and Patrick Kiefner (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) was 1-3 with a double.

Northampton improves to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in Region 19.

Salem slips to 6-13 overall and 1-4 in the Region.

The Spartans are back on the field this Sunday when they open a Region 19 three-game series with 9th ranked Brookdale Community College in a double-header scheduled for a 12pm start at Spartan Park.