SEWELL, NJ - The 4th seeded Northampton softball team advanced to the Region 19 semifinals with a victory over #2 Brookdale on Saturday afternoon at RCSJ-Gloucester, downing the Jersey Blues, 8-3, to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.  The Spartans dropped their opening game to top-seeded RCSJ-Gloucester, 11-3, earlier in the day. 

GAME ONE vs. #1 RCSJ-Gloucester - Lost 11-3
In game one, the 4th seeded Spartans managed only 5 hits and 3 runs as they fell to #1 RSCJ-Gloucester, 11-3. 

Sydney Harper (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth), Molly Devers (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty), Jenna Geiger (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown), Emma Kozy (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) and Katie Knecht (Pen Argyl, PA/Pen Argyl) each had one hit for Northampton. 

Harper took the loss on the mound, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits over 3.0 innings.  

GAME TWO vs. #2 Brookdale - WON 8-3
In a "win or go home" game two, the Spartans stayed alive and advanced to the semifinals with an 8-3 victory over the Jersey Blues.

Northampton jumped out to a 5-0 lead, which Brookdale cut to 6-3 entering the 7th, but the Spartans tacked on 2 insurance runs to put the game out of reach. 

Emma Kozy (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) got the complete game victory in the circle, allowing 3 runs (2 earned), scattering 8 hits over 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and 0 walks.

Kozy was also big at the plate, finishing 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.  Taylor Neumann (York, PA/York Suburban) was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and Mya Frana (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) added a double for the Spartans. 

Northampton, now 19-11 overall, will face 3rd seeded Middlesex College on Sunday in another "do-or-die" contest at 10am. 

The winner will advance to the Region 19 championship vs. #1 RCSJ-Gloucester. 

Brookdale finishes the year at 31-11.