BLACKWOOD, NJ - The nationally ranked Northampton baseball team let a, 3-1, lead slip away in the bottom of the 9th inning, falling in game one of their Region 19 series to Camden County College, 4-3, on Friday afternoon.
The Spartans, ranked 12th in the NJCAA national poll, jumped out, 1-0, in the top of the first inning and extended their lead to, 3-1 after seven full innings.Â
Spartan starter
Juan Cruz (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was outstanding on the mound, firing 7 innings and allowing only 5 hits and 1 unearned run, for the no decision. Cruz left the game after the bottom of the 7th inning, with the Spartans still leading, 3-1.
Carver Perrone (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) suffered the loss, when Camden was able to push across 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, for the walk off win over the Spartans.
"Great game and a tough loss," stated Spartans Head Coach
Adrian Yaguez, "Both teams battled and it could have gone either way. We had opportunities to put the game away and it just didn't happen for us. We will be ready to get back on the field tomorrow to finish the series."
Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI and
Max Landis (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) was 1-3 with a stolen base. The Spartans offense was limited to just 6 hits in the loss.
Northampton is now 30-15 overall and 21-9 in Region 19.
Camden improves to 22-15 overall and 17-11 in the Region.
The Spartans and Cougars will continue their Region 19 series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for 12pm at Spartan Park.
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