EASTON - Northwestern got hot at the right time of the season and rolled into the playoffs on a high note.

Unfortunately, the Tigers were cooled off by a pair of pitchers from Saucon Valley in the district semifinals on Saturday, ending their season short of where they wanted to be, falling to the Panthers 4-2.

Saucon Valley manufactured a run in the first inning with a base hit, stolen base, fly out and ground out. Jake Klotz then doubled, but starter Shaun O’Donnell settled in and stranded Klotz at second.

The Panthers added a second run when the Tigers made a couple mental mistakes and an error in the fourth that resulted in a sacrifice fly for Jake Albert. Another run scored on a pick-off play that resulted in a runner coming home and the other returning safely to first base.

“Infield play was the difference in the game today,” said Northwestern head coach Chad Cooperman. “They made some great plays, diving plays in the infield to knock down some hits and we made a few mistakes. That wound up being the difference in the game.”

It took until the sixth inning for Northwestern to get to starter Rocco Viscito.

Coming into the inning, the Tigers (15-9) had just two hits against the left-hander, but Wes George opened the frame with a base hit. Just as they had done with their two other hits, it appeared George would be stranded right at first base when Viscito got the next two batters out. Justin Augustus, who had singled back in the fourth, singled again to put two runners on and Josh Farber added another single to load the bases.

Needing a big hit, Chase Moyer delivered when he grounded a single into left field that brought home both George and Augustus to make it 3-2.

The Tigers seemed destined for one of their late-inning comebacks, but the Panthers broke the momentum by scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases on a single and two walks ahead of Viscotto, who singled to make it 4-2.

“That definitely changes how you can approach the seventh inning and I thought it was more of a momentum grab, if anything for Saucon,” said Cooperman. “It impacted how we played in the seventh, but it was the momentum swing more than anything.”

Reliever Jake Klotz got the first two outs in the seventh before George singled for the second time. Josh Lichman hit a ball to left field that was sinking fast, but Cole Hubert - who had just moved to left from center field - made a desperation dive and was able to catch the ball and hang onto it for the final out of the game.

O’Donnell was charged with three earned runs on four hits and two walks over five innings, and Moyer allowed a run on two hits and two walks in his one inning of work.

“We had a good season after getting off to a slow start, and I have to credit the guys for getting things straightened out and making a good run,” said Cooperman. “We have to figure out how to get off to better starts in games and avoid playing from behind as much as we have.”

ALL ABOARD ... Northwestern has just two seniors in Sam Mauro and Wes George, so the team has a good foundation for the 2024 season. Most of its pitching returns, apart from the 13 innings that George pitched this season with a 4.31 ERA. George also hit .327 this season. Mauro played in 19 games.

Northwestern 000 002 0 - 2 6 1

Saucon Valley 100 200 x - 4 6 1

O’Donnell, Moyer (6) and Eisenhard; Viscito, Klotz (7) and Werkheiser. W - Viscito. L - O’Donnell. S - Klotz.