A six-run fourth inning broke open a close game and proved too much for Northampton in a 18-7 loss to Wanderers in NorCo Legion baseball Friday in Bethlehem.

“I do not think they played their game tonight,” said Bill Hughes, Northampton manager, of his team.” It is tough. We are missing some guys, but I said, ‘Let’s just crawl back,’ and they had the grit and resiliency to keep the game going and keep it alive. That shows that you are playing against adversity and that is a big thing. That is good character.”

Playing as the home team, Northampton fell behind early as Wanderers plated one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead.

Northampton got two runs back in the bottom of the third inning. Noah Kline and Brayden Giandomenico both walked. Then, Zack Hartzell grounded out to score Kline and Giandomenico scored when Connor Muth reached on an error.

With the game now at 3-2, Wanderers batted around in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 9-2.

The big hit in the fourth came from Drew Erfle, whose bases loaded triple scored three runs for Wanderers.

Northampton kept another run off the board when Hartzell fielded Jacob Matthews’ triple and relayed it to Giandomenico at shortstop, who threw home to catcher Elliot Hughes for the tag on Matthews at home plate.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Northampton got one of those runs back when Owen Basara reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on an errant pick-off throw from Wanderers’ catcher Brayden Kashner.

However, Wanderers sent 12 men to the plate in the top of the fifth inning, scoring six more runs on a series of singles and walks mixed with a couple of errors.

“We did not play our game defensively,” Hughes said. “We made some mental errors as well as physical errors and that is going to come back and bite you. Usually, it is the one inning that you kind of fall apart and it is hard to crawl back from, but they did crawl back and kept us in the game.”

Down 15-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Northampton showed the grit and resiliency Hughes spoke of, extending the game by scoring four runs.

First, Connor Muth tripled to score Zack Hartzell, who led off the inning with a single. After Quinn Hughes reached on a fielder’s choice, Basara singled to score Muth. Noah Kline was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Brayden Giandomenico and Tyler Biechy each walked to score Quinn Hughes and Basara.

Down eight runs, Northampton loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but could not cut into the deficit.

Wanderers added three runs in the top of the seventh for the final score of 18-7.

On the mound, Cole Schaffer started and pitched 3 ⅓ innings. Carson Wisser came on in relief pitching 1 innings. Giandomenico pitched the final two innings of relief for Northampton.

The loss drops Northampton to 4-4 on the season with games scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and today (Thursday).