SOMERVILLE, NJ - The Northampton baseball team scored 14 runs on 16 hits to cruise past NJCAA DII Raritan Valley Community College, 14-4, on Tuesday afternoon at Lions Park.

Freshman Ryder Hertzler (East Earl, PA/Garden Spot) picked up the win on the mound, going 5 innings and allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, striking out 8 with 1 walk. Ben Warner (Alexandria, VA/Alexandria City (VA)) threw three innings in relief with 2 strikeouts.

"Good overall day today," explained Spartans Head Coach Adrian Yaguez, "We got a quality start on the mound and a strong effort out of the bullpen from two of our freshman and that was great to see. I also felt we did a nice job offensively today in some tough conditions with the wind and the cold temps. Very pleased with our overall effort."

Trailing, 2-1, in the top of the third inning, the Spartans broke things open with 7 runs to jump ahead and never looked back. Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) drew a bases loaded walk to tie the score, 2-2, and Aiden Pearson (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown) followed with a bases clearing double to left field to put the Spartans ahead, 5-2. Danny Qualteria (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) doubled to score two more runs and an RBI single by Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) had the Spartans on top, 8-2.

The Spartans added a run in the top of the fifth and again in the top of the 6th and two more runs in the top of the 7th and top of the 8th to put the game out of reach and secure the 10-run mercy rule win after 8 innings.

Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was 2-3 with 2 runs scored a stolen bse and 2 RBI and Patrick Kiefner (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) was 2-3 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI for the Spartans.

Danny Qualteria (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown), Aiden Pearson (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown), John Pushkar (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) and Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) all had a double in the win and Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) collected 3 hits to help pace the 16 hit outburst.

The Spartans improve to 17-10 overall.

Raritan Valley is now 14-9 overall following the loss.

Northampton is back on the field on Wednesday when they host NJCAA DII Sussex County Community College in a non-conference match-up at 3:30pm at Spartan Park.