CREEKSVILLE – Northeast Academy swept the season series with county rival Northampton-East here Thursday.

This victory wasn’t as easy as the 7-0 win the Eagles secured March 17, however, as the Lady Rams fought to deadlock the game late before falling 4-3.

Northeast got two of their runs in the first frame when LeeAnn Barnes reached on an error and went to third on a single by senior Laura Boone.

Barnes scored and Boone went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lyndal Brown before Boone came around when Lindsey Bridgers reached via an error to make it 2-0.

East scored their first run of the season off Eagle pitcher Jessica Duncan in the bottom of the first.

Mindy Drewette delivered a single to second when Amanda Bethel did the same. She stole third and then scored on a Megan Ard RBI-groundout that trimmed the deficit to 2-1.

Northeast added to their lead in the top of the second when Ashley Ricks walked, went to third when Barnes reached on an error and scored on Boone’s RBI-groundout to make it 3-1.

East continued to plug away in the bottom of the second.

Alicia Piland doubled and went to third on an error on the same play and then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.

The Lady Rams deadlocked the contest in the bottom of the third, but missed a chance to break open the game.

Drewette singled to center and went to second on a groundout by Bethel. She stole third and then scored on Ard’s RBI-single.

Ard went to second on a Jessica Price single to right to give the Rams runners at first and second with only one out. A fielder’s choice and a strikeout ended the threat with the game tied at 3-all.

The Lady Eagles scored the game-winner in the top of the fourth frame when senior Samantha Cook singled and advanced to second on a base hit by Ricks. Cook came around to score when Lori Coggins reached on a fielder’s choice to make it 4-3.

The Rams reached second in the fourth inning, but had a runner tagged out trying to reach third. In the fifth, a runner was thrown out while attempting a steal of third with two outs.

After going quietly in the bottom of the sixth, Northampton-East had one more chance to tie the game when Drewette tripled to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

She was left stranded, however, when Duncan snagged a line drive off the bat of Bethel to secure the final out and propel Northeast to the win.