In a matchup between the top two Colonial League softball teams, Northwestern scored nine runs over its final four innings to defeat Palmerton 9-4 on Friday afternoon.

The two teams entered the contest with a combined record of 20-4, with each averaging nine runs per game. The outcome matched Northwestern’s scoring average, as the Tigers won their fifth straight game, while Palmerton suffered its second consecutive loss.

Northwestern pitcher Emma Freeman and Palmerton’s Hailey George did not allow a run over the first two innings. After Freeman tossed another scoreless frame in the top of the third, the Tigers broke through with two runs in the bottom half, aided by three errors.

Ella Bressi reached on the first error. Freeman was retired on a groundout, but an errant throw to second sailed into the outfield, allowing Bressi to score the game’s first run. With two outs, Abby Dunstan lifted a pop-fly double down the right-field line. She moved to third on a passed ball and scored on another Palmerton error.

Palmerton cut into Northwestern’s lead in the top of the fourth. After two outs, Samantha Wolfe was hit by a pitch, and Grace Schneider followed with a four-pitch walk. Mackenzie Ferber then lined a single to right field, scoring Wolfe from second.

Northwestern answered with a two-out rally of its own in the bottom half of the inning. Sam Boyer singled to center, Bressi followed with a single to right, and Freeman delivered an RBI single to left to score Boyer. Natalie Conner then doubled to bring home Bressi and Freeman, extending the Tigers’ lead to 5-1.

The Bombers chipped away with a run in the fifth. Hailey Barry reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. With two outs, Kyla Trumbore singled to drive in Barry.

Trailing 5-2, Palmerton would get no closer as Northwestern added four more runs over the next two innings. In the fifth, Ainsley Behler hit a double to left-center field that bounced over the fence. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on an infield error.

Bombers coach Robert Hock pointed to his team’s defense, which committed four errors in the game.

“I don’t believe it’s the pressure of a big game that caused the miscues,” Hock said. “We need to be ready on every pitch and anticipate better. Our pitcher certainly deserved better.”

Northwestern added three more runs in the sixth. Freeman singled, and Conner doubled her to third before she scored on a wild pitch. Dunstan followed with a home run — her fourth in the last four games — to extend the lead to 9-2.

Tigers coach Kate Farber was pleased with her team’s approach at the plate.

“We got full contribution,” Farber said. “We’re seeing the ball well. We’re hitting the ball hard and forcing defenses to make plays.”

Trailing by seven runs, the Bombers did not go quietly. With one out in the seventh, Tessa Sander reached on an error. Trumbore singled, and both runners advanced on another error. Jaylin Strohl’s base hit scored Sander, and Schneider’s single brought home Trumbore.

Hock emphasized the positives when addressing his team after the game.

“We had a really good finish against a really good team,” Hock said. “We’ve lost two games in a row, but we’re 11-2 and in great position for the league and district tournaments.”

Farber praised her team’s progress since the start of the season.

“We’ve improved in every aspect of the game since the beginning of the schedule, when we left a lot of runners on base, played poorly in the field and could have pitched much better,” Farber said. “Now we’re hitting, and we have great depth in pitching, which is a good problem to have in deciding who we put out there. It was great that Emma pitched the whole game today. She shows up in big games for us.”

CLAPPING FOR CARTWHEELS ... In what has become a tradition at Northwestern, Farber performs a cartwheel in front of her applauding team after each victory.

THE UNEXPECTED ... For two teams that have played strong defense this season, they combined for seven errors in the game.

RECORD SETTER ... With Abby Dunstan’s home run in the sixth inning, she set a new Northwestern school record with 152 career hits.

Palmerton 000 110 2 - 4 6 4

Northwestern 002 313 x - 9 12 3

George and Trumbore; Freeman and Dunstan. W - Freeman. L - George. HR: Northwestern - Dunstan (6th inning, one on).

Records:Palmerton (11-2); Northwestern (10-3).