In a game that featured a little bit of everything, Northwestern edged Palmerton, 5-4, in an extra-inning showdown between two of the top teams in the Colonial League.

The contest showcased solid pitching, good defense, shaky defense, a late-inning game-tying rally, and a winning run that scored from second base on an infield error.

With the game tied at 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Rylee McGinley led off with a walk for the Tigers. Sage Toman moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. After Isabelle Akelaitis lined out to left field, McGinley scored the decisive run from second base on a slow ground ball that was misplayed for an error.

‘We did a ton of positive things today,” said Northwetsern coach Kate Farber. “In the ninth, the walk and the sacrifice bunt were huge. To beat a really good team like Palmerton, you have to do the little things that give you a chance to score.”

The game began with standout pitchers Emma Freeman of Northwestern and Carly Gaffney of Palmerton exchanging goose eggs for three innings. The Tigers managed three hits, but failed to score while the Bombers could only get two base knocks off Freeman.

In the home fourth, the Bombers broke through to take a 1-0 lead. Mikayla Pengally squeezed a ground ball single between first and second base and scored on Gaffney’s long double to centerfield.

Palmerton’s slim lead held up until the top of the sixth inning when Northwestern (6-1) put together a two-out, four-run rally. After Emily Christopher robbed Akelaitis of an extra-base hit with a one-hand stab of a ball hit into the left-centerfield gap, Abby Dunstan drew a walk. Freeman then ripped a triple to center that tied the score at 1-1. The Bombers’ infield defense than opened the gates for three more Tigers’ runs by committing three consecutive errors to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage after six innings.

“What can you say”? said Palmerton coach Robert Hock. “You have to take care of the ball, and we didn’t. You can’t give good teams more than three outs in an inning.”

But the Bombers (5-1) weren’t going down without a fight as they staged a three-run rally to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh and send the game into extra innings. Madison Green started the rally with a bad-hop single to left. Sydney Frantz followed Green with a single up the middle. After Barry walked to load the bases, Megan Matsko grounded into a fielders’ choice to cut the deficit to 4-2. Down to their final out, Palmerton tied the game when the Tigers returned the favor to the Bombers by committing two infield errors that knotted the score at 4-4.

“We did some good things and also some bad things today,” said Farber, “We certainly were battle tested.”

Neither team scored in the eighth which then allowed Northwestern to get what was to be the game-winning run in the ninth.

“We have a game tomorrow so we just turn the page and move on,” said Hock. “It’s a long season.”

ARMS AND BATS … Both teams’ pitchers had good days at the plate. Northwestern’s Freeman was 3-for-3 with two singles and an RBI triple. Palmerton’s Gaffney had an RBI single and reached base twice in four at bats.

MULTI-TALENTED … With no recorded National Anthem to play, the Bomber players sang the Star Spangled Banner before the first pitch of the game.

COACH CARTWHEEL … After the win, Farber did a cartwheel on the outfield grass in front of her team to show her elation for the big win. “They didn’t think I could be gymnastic,” she said with a laugh.

Northwestern 000 004 001 - 5 6 3

Palmerton 000 100 300 - 4 7 4

Freeman and Dunstan; Gaffney and Delgado. W - Freeman. L - Gaffney.