EDISON, NJ - The Northampton softball team turned in a great effort on Saturday at the Region XIX tournament, battling 2nd seeded Gloucester in game, before falling 1-0 and then defeating 4th seeded Ocean 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals on Sunday at 11am.
In game one vs. Gloucester, the Roadrunners scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 5th to plate the only run in the pitchers duel. Gloucester limited the Spartans to only two hits, while Northampton pitcher
Rikki Correll only allowed 5 hits.
Alyssa Maffia and
Sarah Petrik had NCC's only hits.
GAME ONE| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs | H | E |
| #3 Northampton (0-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| #2 Gloucester (1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 1 | 5 | 0 |
In game two, Correll threw a 2-hit shutout as Northampton downed 4th seeded Ocean County College, 1-0, to advance to the semi-finals on Sunday morning at 11am vs. Gloucester County (Gloucester lost to #1 Brookdale, 1-0, in the winner's bracket game).
Jesi Cericola, who earned 2nd Team All-Region honors earlier this week, was 2 for 3 with the game's only RBI, driving in
Amanda Decker with the winning run in the bottom of the 6th inning. Decker had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice from
Rachel Bard.
GAME TWO| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs | H | E |
| #4 Ocean (0-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| #3 Northampton (1-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Northampton, now 18-12 overall, will face Gloucester County at 11am on Sunday May 4th, with the winner advancing to the Region XIX Championship game vs. Brookdale.
