Knocking on the door

Salem CC baseball knocks off Northampton for third win in its last four games against nationally ranked opponents

REGION 19 BASEBALL
Salem CC 8, Northampton 1
CCBC Essex 12-8, Delaware Tech 6-4
Raritan Valley 8, Morris 5
Mercer 12, Brookdale 2
RCSJ-Cumberland 15, Montgomery 2
Bergen 11, Delaware County 10

By Riverview Sports News

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Salem CC baseball took another step towards potentially breaking into the national rankings Wednesday when it went on the road and scored a complete 8-1 win over No. 12 Northampton.

The win comes on the heels of the Mighty Oaks taking two of three from then No. 11 Middlesex over the weekend.

“Any time you can beat a nationally ranked team is always a good win,” Mighty Oaks coach John Holt said. “(But) we just can’t be satisfied and have to keep at it. We’ve got a long road ahead and goals that we need to keep working for.”

One of those goals is to break into the JUCO Division III rankings. In addition to their most recent victories, the Mighty Oaks crushed Oakton (Ill.) right before it appeared in the poll and played two competitive games against this week’s No. 2 SUNY Niagara.

The Mighty Oaks (15-16) collected 10 hits and took advantage of six Northampton errors. Demetrius DeRamus, Matt Murphy and Tyler Hacker all had two hits. They jumped on top with two runs in the first inning and never lost the lead. They led 5-0 before the Spartans scratched.

“We played good team baseball,” Holt said. “When the defense needed to be picked up we did it with the offense and pitching.

“Everyone had a piece of the win. The energy the team brought 1 through 25 was a difference maker. It was a good team win. They are really starting to come together as a unit.”

Seth McCormick and Jon Gambone combined to hold the Spartans to seven hits and one unearned run. They struck out 10 and walked only one.

McCormick worked the first six innings, allowing five hits, an unearned run, a walk and striking out eight. In 8 1/3 innings since being pulled mid-inning against Mercer with shoulder issues and six runs allowed, McCormick hasn’t allowed an earned run and struck out 12 with two wins and a save. Gambone worked the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. 

“Seth pitched a great game for us,” Holt said. “He really put us in a position to win all day. He worked ahead and worked hard.”

The Spartans (15-4) have lost five in a row and eight of their last 10.