The big hit that Palmerton has been struggling to find over the last four games finally arrived.

It came on one mighty swing from Kelsey Balliet Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the District 11 Class 3A softball playoffs.

With the Bombers trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning to Pen Argyl, Balliet belted a pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer. The blast brought home Sydney Frantz, who had walked to lead off the inning. Palmerton added an insurance run when Megan Matsko singled to right, stole second, and came home on a base hit up the middle by Madalynn Moyer.

Palmerton’s 3-1 victory sends it into Thursday’s semifinal round against Pine Grove. The game will be played at Blue Mountain High School with a 5 p.m. start.

Palmerton coach Robert Hock had been patiently waiting for his team’s offense to come to life after it had scored a total of just three runs in its last four games - all losses.

“It’s been frustrating for sure,” he said. “But as this game went on we were putting better swings on the ball, so I was hoping something would happen.”

Balliet’s home run was her first of the season.

“Coming in, I was seeing the pitches really well and I knew I had to have a big hit to send my team to the semifinals in the districts,” she said. “It came off my bat pretty good and when it went over the fence, I felt pretty proud of myself.”

The clutch hit may have also cemented Balliet’s spot in the batting order.

“We’ve been moving our hitters in and out of the cleanup spot,” said Hock. “After today, it looks like Kelsey is there to stay.”

Pen Argyl scored its only run in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jillian Bradley walked and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Carina Cutone singled to right field to drive her in.

A pitchers’ duel between the Green Knights’ Kayla Holley and the Bombers’ Carly Gaffney limited both teams to a combined four hits going into the bottom of the sixth.

Gaffney was on her game from the onset, throwing over 70 percent of her pitches for strikes and retiring the Knights in order in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings.

In the visitors’ sixth, Callie Schneck led off with a single to right and was sacrificed to second. Katie Knecht then drilled a long fly ball toward the gap in left center that was run down by the Bombers’ Mikayla Pengally, who made an over-the-shoulder catch. Cutone then laced a single to center, but Pengally’s perfect throw gunned down Schneck at the plate to end the inning and keep the deficit at one run for Palmerton.

“Mikayla is pretty special,” said Hock. “She’s only a freshman, and she can play anywhere on the field. She’s very smooth defensively.”

The Bombers’ bench came alive with the put out at home, and the adrenalin carried over into the home sixth for their come from behind win.

‘We’ve been pretty flat offensively for some time,” said Hock. “Let’s hope this win gets us untracked again.”

HARD OUTS ... Palmerton hit the ball on the screws in the home fourth. Gaffney led off with a line drive caught by the pitcher. Balliet then barreled one up, but the bullet was speared by the center fielder for the second out. Cadee Munjone then walked, and Matsko ripped a base hit to right that somehow short-hopped into the outfielder’s glove, preventing the ball from rolling to the fence and possibly scoring the tying run. With runners at the corners, Moyer hit a rocket to left, but it was right at the fielder for the final out of the inning.

MASTERY ON THE MOUND ... Gaffney was dominate throughout the game, allowing just four hits, walking one and striking out six. Pen Argyl’s Holley took the tough loss while giving up four hits, walking three and fanning 10.

Pen Argyl 100 000 0 - 1 4 0

Palmerton 000 003 x - 3 4 0

Holley and Rissamiller; Gaffney and Ballet. W - Gaffney. L - Holley.