Tamaqua needed a spark - and Gabby Robb provided it.

Robb not only ignited a big inning and jump-started a Blue Raider victory, but Tamaqua coach Jill Barron is hoping that the fire Robb lit on Monday morning turns into a full-fledged inferno moving forward.

Robb’s line drive double down the third base line to open the fourth inning provided Tamaqua with its first baserunner of the game against Jim Thorpe. It was the catalyst to a nine-run explosion that led to an 11-1 Schuylkill League victory.

Robb added a three-run double later in the frame, and then ended the game in the fifth with an RBI-single that invoked the 10-run rule.

“At that point in the game, I was just trying to get something started,” Robb said about her leadoff hit in the fourth. “We had gotten off to a slow start offensively, but we were only down a run. So I just wanted to get on base.”

Robb began a streak of six straight Tamaqua batters who reached base. Following her hit, Hailey Williams unloaded an RBI-double, Bryn Clifford singled, Addison Krall delivered a two-run double, Kaziah Streisel walked, and Megan Lavine singled. That put the Raiders up 3-1 and left the bases loaded with no one out.

Jim Thorpe pitcher Amanda Goodchild - who had tossed three perfect innings and struck out five heading into the frame - looked like she might escape without further damage as she retired the next two hitters.

But an infield error allowed another run to score and extended the inning.

The Raiders made that hurt as Robb stepped in and delivered her second double of the inning, this one plating three runs. RBI doubles by Williams and Clifford capped the nine-run outburst.

“On my first double, I got an inside fastball and I was able to get a good swing on it and pull it down the line,” explained Robb. “On the second double, their pitcher tried to keep it away from me, but I was able to go with the pitch and take it to the opposite field. I didn’t hit that one as hard, but it found an open space.”

The Raiders’ big inning featured eight hits - five of them doubles.

“I told our girls prior to the fourth inning that I thought we were being a little too patient,” Barron said. “We were taking good pitches and getting behind in the count. I told them we needed to be a little more aggressive at the plate.

“Gabby got us going, and then it seemed like everyone relaxed a little. We have a strong lineup. Every girl in our batting order is a capable hitter, and we showed that the last two innings.”

In the Tamaqua fifth, Streisel singled and Lavine reached on an error before Kolbe Robb and Gabby Robb delivered RBI-singles to end the game.

“We couldn’t get out of that fourth inning,” said Jim Thorpe coach Keith Brinker, who saw his team fall to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in league play. “They hit a few balls hards, they had a couple of other balls that found open spaces, and we made an error that prevented us from getting out of the inning with a lot less damage.

“Now, our challenge is to bounce back. Our goal entering the season was to play .500 ball and make the district playoffs, and that hasn’t changed. That’s still within our grasp.”

For Tamaqua (1-6, 1-3), the win was the first of the campaign after some close early-season losses.

“Hopefully, this is the spark we needed to turn things around and build some momentum heading into the remainder of the season,” Barron said. “We’ve been in every game except one, but just haven’t been able to find ways to win them.

“This should give us confidence moving forward. Now, we have to make sure we build off this win. There is a lot of season still remaining.”

BRILLIANT BRYN ... Clifford was dominant on the mound for Tamaqua, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 in five innings of work. Despite wind chills in the 30s during the game, Clifford didn’t walk a batter and ran just one three-ball count.

BIG INNING ... Four of Clifford’s strikeouts came in the third inning. The rare statistical feat occurred when a dropped third strike led to a Jim Thorpe batter reaching base safely despite being struck out.

HITTING STARS ... Gabby Robb had three hits, four RBIs and scored twice for Tamaqua. Williams and Clifford added two hits apiece, while Williams, Streisel and Lavine all scored twice. For Jim Thorpe, Jada Mahmde and Kristin Pompa had singles. Mahmde scored her team’s only run, while Pompa knocked in the run.

Jim Thorpe 000 10 - 1 2 2

Tamaqua 000 92 - 11 11 2

Goodchild and Mahmde; Clifford and Krall. W - Clifford. L - Goodchild.