COOPERSBURG – Postseason baseball puts run-scoring opportunities at a premium.

Unable to cash in during the first four innings of Friday night’s Colonial League playoff contest against Palmerton, Southern Lehigh broke it open in the fifth to claim a 6-1 victory.

The fourth-seeded Spartans scored six runs in the inning on five hits to secure the win and punch their ticket to Monday’s semifinal against top seed Northwestern.

“We hung in there long enough to give ourselves a chance,” said Southern Lehigh coach Todd Miller. “But they’ve been a good team all year long, they swing the heck out of it and they proved it the other day when we played them up there.”

That game on Wednesday ended when Tyler Stuck’s single in the bottom of the seventh scored Brock Bollinger to give the Bombers a 6-5 win.

The Spartans (14-6) produced the clutch hits Friday.

After back-to-back one-out walks by Landon and Gavin Bealer in the bottom of the fifth, Ashton Levy’s single scored Landon Bealer from second, moving Gavin to scoring position and knotting the game at 1-1. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third with one out.

Matt Tankred delivered a deep RBI double to left that scored Gavin Bealer, giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead with runners at second and third and still one out.

Will Woodring dropped down a bunt, which was mishandled, allowing Levy to score from third and making it 3-1.

Christian Pickell delivered a two-run triple to center to make it 5-1. Michael Andrews’ RBI single to center scored Pickell, pushing the lead to 6-1.

“Coming in, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Palmerton coach Erick Kresge. “We knew it was going to be a tight, close game.

“They’re tough. They got a few runners on there and they were able to push a few across, and they kind of smelled blood in the water. Overall, I thought we played really well.”

Palmerton scored a run in the top of the fifth without a hit.

Ethan Recker was hit by pitch with one out, and later stole second. Cole Serfass grounded out to second for the second out, moving Recker to third.

Brock Bollinger followed and reached safely when the throw from third to first was high, allowing Recker to score and give the fifth-seeded Bombers a 1-0 lead.

Palmerton (12-9) threatened in the top of the first. Walks by Ethan Recker and Bollinger, sandwiched around a single from Cole Serfass loaded the bases with no outs.

But Spartans starter Wyatt Yaindl responded with back-to-back strikeouts before a diving grab by Christian Pickell in left field ended the inning with the bases full.

“You can’t waste opportunities against a good baseball team like that,” said Kresge. “We have to put the ball in play and score.

“The two strikeouts were tough. If we put the ball in play and score a run, it could be a different ball game. But their left fielder made a great play, and that’s what happens in good baseball games. They make good plays.”

Garrett Horvath worked out of a jam in the bottom of the third for Palmerton.

Southern Lehigh leadoff hitter Landon Bealer walked on four pitches to start inning and stole second. Gavin Bealer followed and dropped down bunt, beating the play at first and moving Landon to third.

But Ashton Levy flied out to right, with the runners staying. Matt Tankred struck out for the second out, with runners again holding at first and third.

Gavin Bealer was gunned down by catcher Brock Bollinger running for second to end the inning.

Horvath allowed two hits, two runs, five walks and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings of work.

“Garrett’s a grinder,” said Kresge. “He fought and battled today, and that’s what we expected him today. We knew he was going to go out there and battle. He pitched great for us.”

LOOKING AHEAD … Kresge and the Bombers will now look ahead to districts, and are hoping to build on their experience in the league tournament. “Postseason baseball is exciting,” said Kresge. “I think they got a little taste of it today, and I hope they come back event stronger. Now they know what it’s like.”

Palmerton 000 010 0 – 1 2 2

So. Lehigh 000 060 x – 6 8 2

Horvath, Beahm (5) and Bollinger; Yaindl, Tankred (7) and Woodring. W – Yaindl. L – Horvath.