Tamaqua softball coach Tony Zancofsky doesn’t like station-to-station baseball once his team gets runners in scoring position.

“We’re going to try to score from second base when we get the chance,” he said.

That approach paid off in Tamaqua’s 7-4 Schuylkill League Division I win over Mahanoy Area on Thursday afternoon.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Raiders plated five runs — three scoring from second base and another coming home on a designed play from third.

With one out, Naomi Knitter worked a full-count walk and stole second. Two outs later, Ceanna Gormley singled home Knitter and advanced to second on the throw. Peyton Faust followed with a line-drive double to right, scoring Gormley. Nico Conahan then delivered an RBI single to right to bring in Faust. Paige Bumbulsky doubled over the center fielder’s head for another run and moved to third on a wild pitch. Molly Evans later walked and was intentionally caught in a rundown, allowing Bumbulsky to score.

Tamaqua carried a five-run lead into the top of the third, with starting pitcher Peyton Faust striking out five of the first six batters she faced.

Mahanoy Area answered quickly. Lilly Carl led off with a home run over the right-field fence, and Kenzie Scully followed with a walk. After being bunted to second, Scully moved to third on Cadance Poslosky’s single and scored on an infield forceout.

Faust regrouped in the fourth, striking out the side.

The Golden Bears closed the gap in the fifth. With one out, Scully reached on an error and Tori Davis walked. After a strikeout, another Tamaqua error put runners on first and third. Naomi Kowalick singled to center to score one run, and a wild pitch brought home another, trimming the deficit to 5-4.

Tamaqua responded in the bottom of the inning. Evans reached second on an outfield error, and pinch hitter Sophia Zrinski drove her in with a single up the middle. Another run scored on an infield error to give the Raiders a 7-4 lead, which held as the final.

Knitter relieved Faust with one out in the fifth and tossed 2 2/3 innings to earn the save. She allowed two runs on three hits and struck out five.

Zancofsky was pleased with the win, especially coming off a 14-0 loss to North Schuylkill two days earlier.

“We have only 11 girls total on the roster this year, so we have to move players around into different positions,” he said. “We do this at practice to give us versatility with such a small roster. Our goal is to get 10 wins to qualify for districts, so every win from here on out is important.”

Gormley, Faust and Conahan each had two hits for the Raiders, who improved to 6-4.

WHATEVER WORKS… The Raiders moved players around the field throughout the game. Gormley, a left-handed thrower, played third base using a first baseman’s glove, while Sophia Sitlinger played first base with a fielder’s glove.

NO CONTACT ZONE… Mahanoy Area struck out 15 times. Tamaqua struck out six, for a combined 21 strikeouts.

Mahanoy Area 002 020 0 — 4 4 4

Tamaqua 050 020 X — 7 7 2

Carl and Mroczka; Faust, Knitter (5) and Evans, Estremera (5). W — Faust. L — Carl. HR: Mahanoy Area – Carl (3rd, none on) .

Records: Mahanoy Area (4-3, 2-3); Tamaqua (4-4, 2-4).