COLUMBUS — In a late addition to the schedule, legendary Delaware Valley High softball coach Asa Whittaker brought his 548 career wins and an undefeated team to Northern Burlington Thursday in the first game ever between the two schools.

While Delaware Valley (9-1) left with its first loss after falling to NBC, 2-1, it was not before the Terriers showed they can be a major contender in a Central Jersey Group II bracket that includes defending state champion Robbinsville and Bordentown.

Northern Burlington, meanwhile, is now 4-2 after facing its fifth future Division I pitcher in six games.

In its first nine games this year, DelVal had crushed its opposition by a combined margin of 118-2. This was never going to happen against NBC (4-2), but the Hunterdon County team did come very close to leaving with a win.

Behind the strong pitcher of Marist University recruit Meghan Haff, Delaware Valley took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

It was here where the wheels fell off as DelVal gave up both of its runs on no hits and two huge errors. In addition to the errors, there were two walks in the inning and DelVal botched a rundown play after having a run caught between third and home on a failed squeeze.

This stood in contrast to the top of the seventh when DelVal had the bases loaded with one out after singles by Alyssa D'Alessio and Brianna Barbadora.

It appeared DelVal would tie the game when Maddie Brogan hit a grounder to second, but Megan Berg alertly threw the ball home to just beat the runner coming in from third base. Northern Burlington pitcher Amanda Gonzalez then got out of the inning on a liner to first base to complete a strong five-hitter.

"We need games like this to become a better team," said Whittaker. "I was just talking to the girls about how they made the plays and maybe we didn't."

When DelVal scheduled this game earlier in the week, it thought it was going to face flamethrower Haylei Archer.

"We were kind of prepared for her," he said. "We really cranked up the (pitching) machine (Wednesday) and maybe our timing was a little off. We've hit pitchers like her (Gonzalez) before, but give her credit. Whatever she was doing worked.''

The lone DelVal run came in the fourth when Haff (.767 batting average coming in) walked and following Alexa DeWire's sac Lydia Brown laced an RBI double down the left field line.

It almost stood up with Haff pitching a three-hitter and striking out 10 to raise her impressive season total to 94, but then came DelVal's defensive woes in the sixth.

The loss not withstanding, you haven't heard the last from a DelVal team that is hoping to win its first sectional title since 1997 when Jen Berghoff was in the circle.

Delaware Valley (9-1) 000 100 0 - 1 5 2

Northern Burlington (4-2) 000 002 x - 2 3 1

WP-Gonzalez. LP-Haff. 2B-Brown (DV). RBIs: DV-Brown.