McAuliffe’s diving double play on squeeze bunt lifts P’burg

The Phillipsburg baseball team had a flare for the dramatic on Thursday.

It was all tied up with North Hunterdon in the top of the seventh when Garrett DuPont scored from third after the Lions threw to first on a dropped third strike.

Then, in the bottom half of the inning, North Hunterdon put the tying run on third with one out when Peter Kane laid down a squeeze bunt. Stateliners pitcher Nick McAuliffe leaped from his spot on the mound to snag the bunt just before it hit the ground, then threw to third to complete the double play and secure the 9-8 win.

Greg Joyce may be reached at gjoyce@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @GJoyce9. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.