BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton baseball team lost both games of their Region 19 doubleheader against Camden County College, falling in game one, 6-5, and a 16-5, loss in game two, on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Park.
"Tough series for us," stated Spartans Head Coach
Adrian Yaguez, "We were seemingly in a good spot going into this series and we had a tough two days and that could hurt us a bit with seeding. We had leads late and we just couldn't put things away. Give Camden credit. They played us tough. But, we need to be better when we have a lead and not let opportunities slip away when we have runners in scoring position and have chances to score more runs. We didn't do what we needed to do to win games this series and that was the bottom line. We will put it behind us and move on."
GAME ONE - Lost 6-5
The Spartans saw a 3-1 lead slip away in the top of the 6th inning as Camden was able to score a pair of runs with two outs, making it a 3-3 ball game, heading into the bottom of the inning.
The Spartans answered in the bottom half of the 6th inning, when
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) doubled to start the inning and later scored on an RBI single by
Aiden Pearson (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown), giving the Spartans back the lead, 4-3.
Camden was able to push 3 runs across in the top of the 7th inning, chasing Spartans starter
Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)), and taking a 6-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, Northampton was able to load the bases with 1 out and pushed one run across when
Zack Schaedel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) was hit by a pitch to force in
Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll), making the score, 6-5. Camden was able to record a strikeout and a fly out with the bases loaded, getting out of the jam, and securing the 6-5 win over Northampton.
The Spartans had 11 hits and committed 1 error.
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) was 3-4 with a double and
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) was 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
John Pushkar (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) was 2-3 with a double and a run scored in the loss.
Jared Diefenbach (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) suffered the loss on the mound, going 6.1 innings and allowing 6 runs on 10 hits with 5 strikeouts.
Nate Unger (Allentown, PA/Parkland) came on in relief and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
GAME TWO - Lost 16-5
The Spartans used 6 pitchers and surrendered 16 hits and issued 9 walks in the 16-5, loss in game two.
Ben Mostosky (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) suffered the loss and slips to 2-2 on the year.
The big blow was when Camden was able to plate 10 runs in the top of the 5th inning, putting the game out of reach for the Spartans.
The Spartans had 10 hits and were able to push 4 runs across the plate in the bottom of the 7th inning, but that was as close as it would get, as Camden was able to get out of a bases loaded jam to secure the win, 16-5.
The Spartans fall to 30-17 overall and 21-11 in Region 19.
Camden improves to 24-15 overall and 21-11 in the Region.
The Spartans are back on the field on Sunday to wrap up their regular season with a Region 19 doubleheader against Union College of Union County New Jersey at 12pm at Spartan Park.
The Spartans will recognize their sophomore class at the conclusion of the Sunday doubleheader.
