BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The nationally ranked Northampton baseball team ended their regular season with a Region 19 doubleheader sweep over visiting Union College of Union County New Jersey on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Park.
The Spartans took down the Owls in game one, 15-0, and carried that momentum into game two, coming out on top, 11-1.
"Good to get a pair of wins today and get us back on track," explained Spartans Head Coach
Adrian Yaguez. "Tough stretch to end the regular season with 10 games in 6 days but we got through it. We will take advantage of the next few days to get us back on our feet and get ourselves ready for the first round of the playoffs next weekend."
GAME ONE - Won 15-0
Freshman lefty
Ben Warner (Alexandria, VA/Alexandria City (VA)) improved to (3-3) on the mound with a complete game 1-hit shutout over the Owls. The crafty southpaw allowed an infield single in the top of the second inning and was unhittable the rest of the way for the Spartans, striking out 8 and allowing 1 walk, over 7 innings of work.
The Spartans jumped out to a, 10-0, lead after three innings and were in cruise control the rest of the way.
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) led the Spartans with a 4-5 day at the plate, with a double and 2 runs scored, knocking in 3 runs.
Matthew Tankred (East Greenville, PA/Southern Lehigh) was 2-3 with 3 RBI and
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) was 2-4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI to pace a 15 hit attack.
Zack Schaedel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) chipped in with a pinch hit double and an RBI.
GAME TWO - Won 11-1
Freshman
Ryder Hertzler (East Earl, PA/Garden Spot) followed the lead from game one on the mound, turning in a strong effort of his own, firing 6 innings and allowing only 1 run with 5 strikeouts to improve to (4-0) on the season.
Sam Erschen (Northampton, PA/Northampton) pitched a scoreless 7th inning with 2 strikeouts to shut the door on the Owls.
Kyle Stoner (Burlington Township (NJ)/Burlington Township (NJ)) led the Spartans 12 hit effort with a 3-3 day with a double and 1 RBI.
Drew Mulligan (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) was 2-3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI and
Aiden Pearson (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown) was 2-3 with a triple and 1 RBI for the Spartans in the nightcap.
Josh Brancy (Sparta. NJ/Sparta (NJ)) was 1-2 with a double and an RBIÂ
Patrick Kiefner (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) was 1-2 and knocked in a pair of runs.
The Spartans end the regular season with an overall mark of 32-17 and 23-11 in Region 19.
The Owls wrap up their season with an overall mark of 7-33 overall and 3-30 in the Region.
The Spartans will now await the results of the Region 19 baseball committee seeding meeting to see who they will match up against in the first round of the upcoming Region 19 baseball tournament.  First Round Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th (If Necessary) with a Best of Three Series.
All playoff information will be posted to nccspartans.com, once it is released by the Region 19 baseball committee.
