Winning is just what they do.

On Thursday, in a matchup of two of the top softball teams in the Colonial League, Northwestern defeated Palmerton 4-3 for its 11th consecutive victory.

The Tigers haven’t lost since a 7-5 setback to Notre Dame-Green Pond on April 7. In the 11-game win streak, their pitching and defense have allowed a total of 16 runs and not more than four in any one game — and that was to Palmerton on April 17 when Northwestern posted a 9-4 win.

After the game, Tigers head coach Kate Farber and Palmerton mentor Robert Hock both said the outcome wasn’t decided until the very last out and was a “great game and fun to watch.”

And that it was.

The Blue Bombers, whose last loss was to Northwestern, put up a three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Tessa Sander blooped a pop-up over the pitcher’s head that spun into an infield single. Kyla Trumbore singled her to third. Jaylin Strohl hit a sacrifice fly to plate the first run.

Grace Schneider singled to right and Hailey George reached on an error to load the bases for Mackenzie Ferber, who lofted a pop fly that dropped inside the right field foul line for a two-run double.

Uncharacteristically down by three runs, Farber spoke to her team between innings.

“Our slogan this year is ‘Unbreakable,’” she said. “I told our team that having lost to us before, the pressure was on them. There was no reason to panic.”

From the pitching circle, George allowed only a swinging bunt single to Ainsley Behler, while striking out five over the first two innings. In the top of the third, though, Northwestern scored its first run of the game.

Elizabeth Diehl led off with a long double to the left-field fence. Ella Bressi bunted for a base hit, but was caught stealing on a great throw from Palmerton catcher Kyla Trumbore. However, Emma Freeman scored Diehl with a sacrifice fly to right.

After a shaky first inning, Behler and Freeman — who relieved in the fifth — gave up no runs on only three hits to give their team a chance to get even or take the lead.

In their half of the fifth, the visitors narrowed the Bomber lead to 3-2. Lily Kinnon walked after a full count. Diehl’s ground out moved Kinnon to second where she tagged and got to third on a flyout. Freeman then scored Kinnon with a two-out single through the left side of the infield.

The Tigers took the lead in the top of the sixth with some help from Palmerton miscues.

Molly Schlofer singled to left and was bunted to second by Samantha Boyer. Following a ground out, Diehl walked and Bressi laid down a perfect bunt base hit to load the bases. Freeman’s ground ball was misplayed, and an errant throw scored Schlofer and Boyer to put Northwestern ahead, 4-3.

Palmerton made a bid to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, Trumbore laced a double down the left-field line. With two outs, Schneider ripped a ground ball deep into the hole at short. Natalie Conner made a spectacular backhand grab and fired a missile to first for the game’s final out.

“I thought the ball was going to get through,” said Hock. “I was already thinking if I was going to send Aylexia Gulla, our pinch runner, home or not, but Conner made that decision for me.”

Despite the loss, Hock picked up the spirits of his team after the game.

“We had them on the ropes, but we let them get off the hook. We match up pretty well with them, and there’s a good chance we’ll see them again in the postseason.”

The Bombers outhit the Tigers, eight to four, but left eight runners stranded thanks to clutch pitching from both Behler and Freeman.

Farber has multiple arms to call on, and trusts them all in big games.

“I have that luxury to change pitchers in mid-game,” she said. “We can change up velocity and movement with our versatility.”

WEB GEMS ... The game featured great defensive plays from both teams. Noteworthy were a leaping catch of a deep fly ball by Palmerton center fielder Tessa Sander, and a diving catch of a short pop up by Tigers pitcher Freeman.

THE ULTIMATE RESPECT ... In the top of the fifth with two outs and Northwestern runners on first and second, Hock intentionally walked Abby Dunstan, one of the premiere hitters in the league, to load the bases. The strategy worked as the next hitter was retired on a fly ball to left field.

CELEBRATING THE CENTURY MARK ... The Tigers celebrated Coach Farber’s 100th career win after the game.

Northwestern 001 012 0 - 4 4 2

Palmerton 300 000 0 - 3 8 3

Behler, Freeman (5) and Dunstan; George and Trumbore. W - Freeman. L - George.

Northwestern (16-3; 15-1); Palmerton (14-3; 12-3).