MAHANOY CITY - It wasn't easy for Marian's softball players to digest another gut-wrenching loss to rival Mahanoy Area.

But Thursday afternoon, for the second time this season, that exactly what the Fillies had to do .Laura Bisco labeled an off-speed pitch for a game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Golden Bears a 5-4 victory, their second one-run win over Marian this season. The only difference from the April 13 meeting in Hometown was the 3-2 score."This is the first time that we've beaten (Marian) twice in a season in such a long time," said Mahanoy Area coach Joe Hullihan. "This, without question, is such a huge win. And the way we won it with Bisco getting that hit. It's the first time she's played for us this year."Marian wished that Bisco was still running track, instead of suiting up for a key softball encounter, which now puts Mahanoy Area in the driver's seat of the Schuylkill Softball League Division 3 title chase. The win pushes the Golden Bears' league record to 6-4, while the Fillies drop to 4-6. Mahanoy has three divisional games remaining with its magic number at two to clinch."It's been the story of our season," said Marian coach Joe DeAngelo. "We've lost our share of (one-run) games. We're young, but we have to find a way to win games like this. We certainly had our chances."The Fillies certainly did.Marian grabbed a 2-1 lead when it sent eight batters to the plate in the second inning and got key singles from Tori Galasso and Steph Lencovich.The Fillies played small ball to add a run in the fourth. Miranda Antiga opened the inning with a single and was bunted over to second by Reese Erbe. A fielder's choice ground out allowed Antiga to eventually score.The Fillies took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth, using a walk and a Mahanoy Area error.But things took a nose-dive shortly after for Marian. The Bears rallied around singles from Desiree Malacusky and Jess Waldron to forge a 4-4 tie.The Marian and Mahanoy Area bats were silent during the next two innings, save for a two-out Mackenzie Joy single for the Fillies in the seventh.The Bears changed that in the eighth. Waldron lit the fuse with an infield single and moved up two bases on an error before Bisco delivered the gamer."This is a game of momentum," said DeAngelo, "and when you're young, momentum can swing rather quickly."AROUND THE HORN … Losing pitcher Joy had a stellar effort, striking out three, while allowing just four hits. She tossed 119 pitches, 73 for strikes. Emily Bruce was also outstanding for the Bears in the circle. Bruce gave up five hits, struck out 10, and walked two. Bruce threw 117 pitches, 72 for strikes.QUOTABLE … "This was a microcosm of our season," said DeAngelo about the sixth one-run loss for the Fillies (4-11).Marian 020 101 00 - 4 5 3Mahanoy Area 101 020 01 - 5 5 3Joy and Kowker; E. Bruce and Brice. W - Bruce. L - Joy.