Northern Lehigh softball rallies past Northwestern

Bob Hicks didn’t have to worry about how his team would bounce back from a loss.

The Northern Lehigh softball coach watched his squad mercy rule Moravian Academy Thursday in its first game since a defeat against Palmerton last week.

Hicks saw the Bulldogs show their mettle again on Friday.

A big sixth inning helped Northern Lehigh rally past Northwestern 3-2 for a critical Colonial League victory, one that firmly entrenched the team atop the West Division standings.

The Bulldogs (11-2; 10-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Northwestern took a 2-0 in the top of the fifth.

“That was huge,” Hicks said. “I have faith in these kids; they never quit. They don’t quit.

“They were on her (Northwestern pitcher Emily Akelaitis) all day, just hitting it right at people. It was just a matter of time before we’d find some holes, and they did. The last inning, those balls were all hit hard.”

Kaitlin Hoffman opened the decisive sixth with a rocket to center field for a leadoff triple before Paige Hude reached and moved into scoring position with a stolen base.

A sacrifice fly from Shyanna Williams scored Kaitlin Hoffman to cut the deficit to 2-1. Lauren Hoffman delivered a clutch RBI double with a full count to score Hude from third base to tie it at 2-2.

“We just come in every time, no matter if we have runs on the board or not, it’s just we need a hit, and we need to score, because these singles are gonna end up getting scores,” Williams said. “No one has to hit the big home run or anything. (We know) it’s gonna pan out for us.

“Up and down the lineup, we can hit. We all have the ability to hit the ball, and we hit it hard, so eventually it’s gonna get through.”

Olivia Toth (2-for-2, two doubles) delivered the game-winning hit with a double to left to score Lauren Hoffman and put the Bulldogs in front.

“This win was definitely very big,” said Kaitlin Hoffman, the game’s winning pitcher who also struck out six. “It shows that we never give up, we keep working, and when we’re down we push to get ahead.”

The Tigers (7-7; 7-5) opened the top of the fifth inning with a bang as Natalie Smith roped a leadoff triple to center field on a 2-2 count.

Cassidy Lentz walked and stole second before a sacrifice bunt from Anna Akelaitis brought in Smith to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead.

Two batters later, Emily Akelaitis deposited a triple to right that scored Lentz and gave the Tigers a 2-0 cushion.

But that was all Northwestern would get the rest of the way, as Kaitlin Hoffman retired the side in order the last two innings.

“This is a huge win for us today, really huge,” Hicks said. “Our kids are first in the division, and you gotta keep fighting and battling to stay up there. You can’t quit, you can’t lay down. We make our own destiny. That’s what they’re doing.

“The West (Division) is tough, and you can’t take anything away from Northwestern; they played a hell of a game, too. We always play each other tough, and I guess today it was who wanted it more.”

BOUNCE BACK ... After a 3-1 loss to Palmerton on April 20, Northern Lehigh has now won two straight, including a 15-0 rout of Moravian Academy on Thursday.

IN THE CIRCLE … Emily Akelaitis recorded seven strikeouts in six innings of work for Northwestern.

HITTERS ... Molly Mitman had a leadoff double in the second inning for Northwestern. Ashley Sisco added a one-out single in the fourth for the Tigers.

WEATHER OR NOT … While most games around the area were postponed due to inclement weather, the staff at Northern Lehigh did a stellar job to get the softball field ready for gametime. “The maintenance crew did a great job today. The field was ready for play,” said Hicks.

PRETTY MUCH PERFECT … Neither team committed an error in the game.

N’western 000 020 0 - 2 4 0

No. Lehigh 000 003 x - 3 5 0

E. Akelaitis and A. Akelaitis; K. Hoffman and Toth. W - K. Hoffman. L - E. Akelaitis.