BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Northampton softball opened league play with a doubleheader sweep of Ocean County College (NJ) on Saturday at Spartan Field.

In game one Rikki Correll earned the complete game victory on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs in the Spartans 14-9 victory.  2013 NJCAA First Team All-American Shelby Belzecky went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and Taryn Zietlow was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI to pace Northampton.

The Spartans trailed 4-0 after 1 1/2 innings, but led by Belzecky's bases clearing double, NCC put 8 runs on the board in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take an 8-4 lead.

The Vikings cut the margin to 10-9 in the 5th inning, but Northampton responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th to account for the final 14-9 margin.

Jesi Cericola finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and Hailley Houck (2 for 4) added 2 RBI for NCC, which improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Region XIX.

GAME 1

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Ocean (0-1)	2	2	1	2	2	0	0	9	9	1
Northamton (2-1)	0	8	2	0	0	4	X	14	16	4

Winning Pitcher: Rikki Correll (2-1)

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After an offensive explosion in game one, game two was much more of a defensive affair, with Northampton prevailing 5-3.

Rikki Correll allowed 3 runs while striking out 7 and Shelby Belzecky hit a 2-run homerun in the 5th inning to lead NCC.

Kaycie Stem was 2 for 3 as NCC improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Region XIX.

GAME 2

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Ocean (0-2)	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	6	1
Northampton (3-1)	0	2	0	0	3	0	X	5	9	1

Winning Pitcher: Rikki Correll (3-1)