Two area teams suffered tough losses on Friday.

The Panther Valley baseball and Northwestern softball squad both dropped one-run decisions. The Panthers fell to North Schuylkill, while the Tigers were edged by Nazareth.

BASEBALL

Panther Vy.-N. Schuylkill

North Schuylkill pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 6-5 non-league win over Panther Valley.

Kolton Joyce doubled among his two hits, scored a run and had an RBI and a walk for the Spartans (2-1). Collin Stanakis also doubled, drew a walk and drove in two with two runs scored, while Hunter Rogers added two hits and a pair of walks. Stephan Minahan was strong in relief, tossing four innings of two-hit ball without surrendering a run while striking out six to earn the win.

Danny Wehr was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Panthers (2-1), who tied it at 5-5 with a run in the top of the third inning after the Spartans scored four in the bottom of the second to go ahead 5-4. Logan Fisher (1-for-2, run scored) and Stephen Hood (1-for-3, RBI) both doubled for Panther Valley.

Panther Valley 221 000 0 - 5 8 1

North Schuylkill 140 000 1 - 6 7 1

Wehr, Jones (6) and Goida; Rogers, Minahan (4) and Whalen. W - Minahan. L - Jones.

SOFTBALL

Nazareth-Northwestern

Northwestern’s comeback bid came up short as perennial power Nazareth held on to post a 5-4 non-league victory over the Tigers.

The Blue Eagles (3-1) raced to a 5-0 lead after three innings, but Northwestern pulled within one by scoring four runs in the home sixth. Nazareth reliever Avery Kauffman, however, shut out the Tigers in the seventh to preserve the win.

Taylor Friel had a double and knocked in two runs for the Eagles, while Alina Weaver added a hit and two RBIs. Bri Recchia contributed a triple, a run and an RBI.

For the Tigers, who fell to 5-1, Emma Freeman had a triple and knocked in two runs. Izzy Akelaitis chipped in with a hit, a run and an RBI, while Ella Bressi finished with a hit and a run.

Freeman suffered the pitching loss, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out seven.

Nazareth 221 000 0 - 5 5 1

Northwestern 000 004 0 - 4 4 4

Grover, Kauffman (6) and McNamee; Freeman and Dunstan. W - Grover. L - Freeman.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Nazareth-Northwestern

Nazareth stayed unbeaten with a 17-7 non-league win over Northwestern.

The Blue Eagles improved to 5-0 with the victory.

Ella Collins had two goals and three assists for the Tigers (1-2), while Sydney Wright also scored twice. Olivia Fagan had a goal and seven ground balls. Olivia Spatz and Cara Thomas each scored once, and Emma Yanders made 14 saves.