BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton Softtball team advanced to the their 4th consecutive Region XIX Final Four with a 8-0, 4-3 sweep of 6th seeded Bergen Community College on Saturday.

In game one, Emily Perruso led off the bottom of the second inning with a single, advanced to 2nd base on a Courtney Rice sacrifice bunt and then scored NCC's first run of the afternoon when Beth Ronalds doubled off the fence to left field.

NCC added a run in the 3rd inning as Julia Weber walked, stolen second and third and then scored on a Mel Morekin sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 NCC.

The Spartans added 4 runs in the 4th inning and then closed the game out in the bottom of the 5th as Jacke Gates doubled home Perruso and Rice to make it 8-0.

Mel Morekin earned the shutout victory.

In game two, NCC jumped out quickly with 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st, highlighted by a 2-run homerun by Morgan Neel. 

Bergen pitcher Jenna Meny then held the Spartans in check and Bergen scored 3 runs in the 4th to close the gap to 4-3, but Julia Weber was able to close the door on the Bulldogs and earn the victory. 

NCC improves to 24-11 overall and now advances to the Region XIX Final Four on May 5th and 6th at Northampton.  The Spartans, the #3 seed, will face #2 seed Brookdale Community College in their first game at noon on Saturday.

Gloucester, the #1 seed, will face 5th seeded Middlesex at 10am on Saturday.  Middlesex advanced to the Final Four by upsetting 4th seeded Ocean County College.