ALLENTOWN - Just one day after Northwestern and Southern Lehigh met in the semifinals of the Colonial League baseball tournament, the two schools squared off again in the semifinals of the league softball tournament.

Much like the Tigers came out on top in baseball, the Northwestern softball team also downed the Spartans, 5-2, to advance to Thursday’s championship game.

After neither team was able to put any runs on the board through three innings, they both notched a run in the fourth, but it would be an inning later when Northwestern (18-1) broke the game open with a two-out rally.

Down 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Kylie Zentz singled and promptly stole second, putting her in scoring position for Brynn Balliet, who doubled to left to tie the game.

Sage Toman, a freshman, then singled to bring home courtesy runner Novalie Duffy-Slemmer, and Morgan Farthing followed with a home run to center to put the Tigers up 5-2.

“We were all picking each other up,” said Farthing, the team’s shortstop. “I don’t think we had many errors tonight. Sam (Sisco) played a great second base and had a lot of key plays, and Brynn pitched a great game.

“I think on both sides we did great, and we need to continue that for the whole season.”

Farthing helped the Tigers tie the game in the fourth when she used her speed and hustled for a double with one out in the inning.

Marissa Christman followed with an RBI-single, knotting the game at 1-1 after Southern Lehigh (13-8) scored the game’s first run in the top of the inning on a solo home run from Holly Walter.

The Spartans again went ahead in the top of the fourth, taking another short-lived one-run lead on a sacrifice fly by Rylee Hobel.

Balliet allowed two earned runs on six hits, issuing four walks and striking out four to get the win. Emily Schlegel came on in relief in the fourth inning for the Spartans and took the loss, giving up the home run to Farthing.

“I really think that it was a momentum thing,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Zimmerman.

“The girls responded, kept it going and we were able to scratch a couple of runs across in that inning (the fourth), and that was what we needed.”

SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE … In the league championship, Northwestern will face the Bangor Slaters (18-1). The Tigers come into the game with a 12-game winning streak after dropping their only game of the season, 19-16, to Palmerton on April 10. Meanwhile, the Slaters last lost in their season opener when they fell to Northwestern 5-2, giving them an 18-game winning streak. Bangor last won the Colonial League title in 2017, while Northwestern has not been crowned a league champion since 2006.

SPEED AND POWER … Northwestern has many ways to win games. They’ve amassed 40 stolen bases on the season, with senior Molly Mitman leading the team with 11, and junior Farthing having 10. On the home run ledger, the Tigers have 27 round-trippers, with Farthing holding a 7-6 lead over Mitman.

So. Lehigh 000 110 0 - 2 6 0

N’western 000 140 x - 5 7 1

Puzio, Schlegel (4), Benner (5) and Hespel; Balliet and Stofflet. W - Balliet. L - Schlegel. HR: Southern Lehigh - Walter (5th, none on); Northwestern - Farthing (5th, two on).