MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Sophomore right-handed pitcher Gavin Panovec (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) twirled a 5-hit shutout on Monday afternoon to lead the Spartans past NJCAA DII Henry Ford Community College, 2-0, and snap a three game early season slide on Day Three of their Spring Trip at the Ripken Experience Baseball Complex.

Panovec (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, scattering 5 hits through seven innings of work, walking one and fanning two in a complete game effort for the win.

Shane Henrick (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) was 2-3 and Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) 1-4 with a stolen base as the Spartans were only able to put together 4 hits on offense. Joey Richards (Bath, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) was 1-2 with a run scored and a double with an RBI.

The Spartans were able to plate two runs in the top of the fifth Inning to break open a 0-0 game. Lukas Cokely (Montrose, PA/Montrose) led off the inning with a walk and stole second base to set the stage for Richards and the go-ahead RBI double to score Cokely into the left-center gap. Richards scored from second base when Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) reached on an infield fielding error, putting the Spartans ahead, 2-0.

Northampton, which Received Votes in the first regular season NJCAA national poll which was released on Monday, is 3-3 overall.

The Spartans are back on the field on Tuesday as they continue their Spring Break trip with a pair of games against NJCAA DII opponents. The Spartans will take on St. Clair Community College at 10am followed by Westmoreland County Community College at 3pm.