BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton baseball team opened their two-game midweek Region 19 series with a, 14-7, win over Middlesex College on Tuesday afternoon at Spartan Park.
The Spartans, ranked 14th in the most recent NJCAA national poll, jumped out to an early, 9-0, lead over the the #12 Colts, and rolled to the win behind a 16 hit attack.
"Good overall effort today," stated Spartans Head Coach
Adrian Yaguez, "I was pleased with how we jumped ahead early and were able to lock it down to the end in this one. Middlesex is a respected opponent and we know they will keep battling so it was good to see us stay focused despite the early lead and play hard until the end. We seem to go as our bats go and today they showed up. Tomorrow will be another battle."
Northampton scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning when
Max Landis (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) scored on an RBI single by
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) and
Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was brought home on a sacrifice fly by
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) for an early, 2-0, lead.
The Spartans added two more runs when
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) delivered again with a 2-run single in the bottom of the second inning to jump ahead, 4-0.
Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) delivered with a 2-run single and
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) came through again with a 2 run double as the Spartans jumped ahead after three innings, 9-0.
Middlesex was able to cut the Spartans lead to, 10-7, behind a 5 run inning in the top of the fifth and pushing across two more runs in the top of the 8th inning.
The Spartans answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to put the game out of reach.
Sam Erschen (Northampton, PA/Northampton) delivered a 2 run single and
John Pushkar (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) followed with an RBI single.
Max Landis (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) delivered the final blow with an RBI double to put the Spartans ahead for good, 14-7.
Sam Erschen (Northampton, PA/Northampton) led the Spartans at the plate, going 4-5, with 2 runs scored and an RBI.
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI and
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) was 2-5 with 4 RBI.
Max Landis (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was 1-3 with a double and 4 runs scored and
Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) and
Aiden Pearson (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown) both had two hits apiece to pace the offense.
Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) improved to 4-0 on the season, going 4.2 innings while scattering 7 hits and no earned runs with 5 strikeouts.
Ben Mostosky (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) followed with 4.1 innings of relief and recording 3 strikeouts.
Northampton improves to 24-13 overall and 15-7 in Region 19.
Middlesex College is now 27-13 overall and 18-8 in the Region.
The Spartans will travel to Edison, NJ on Wednesday to complete the two-game midweek Region 19 series at 3:30pm at the Colts Baseball Facility.
