Northern Lehigh accumulated 10 base runners across the first six innings of a Colonial League battle with Palmerton.

The problem was, the Bulldogs couldn't string them together during any sequence.That all changed in the final inning.Five of NL's first six batters reached base during the seventh inning, as the visitors produced four runs during one final push. The late surge was enough to rally past the Bombers in exciting fashion, 6-4."We were hitting them, but we just couldn't string them together early on," said Northern Lehigh head coach Robert Hicks. "The kids really fought back hard today and never once gave up. This team hasn't given up all season. I'm really proud of them."We started toward the top of the order and went right through. I'm exhausted, stressed out, and just really proud of them."Palmerton grabbed a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, plating its runs on a combination of hits and passed balls."We tried to manufacture some runs and some things didn't happen the way we wanted them to," said Palmerton head coach Robert Hock. "They helped us out a little bit with a few miscues on their end, but you take anything you can get in these close games."Katie Ziegler started in the circle for Northern Lehigh and was both efficient and effective early on. She scattered three hits across four frames."Katie (Ziegler) does a great job and I have all of the confidence in the world in her," said Hicks. "She was dialed in early. When they seemed to catch up to her, we just switched it up."Ziegler's relief was Kaitlin Hoffman. She took over in the circle in the fifth inning, shortly after crushing a two-run homer in the top of the frame. Hoffman was dominant in both aspects of the game, as she struck out five hitters across three innings of relief work."Kaitlin (Hoffman) did a great job," said Hicks. "They're two totally different types of good pitchers. That's what they are, they're just good."Palmerton's Darion Jacoby produced a run by herself in the bottom of the fifth inning, which extended the Bombers' lead to 4-2. Jacoby flashed all of her tools during that sequence as she singled, stole second, and advanced all the way home on a pair of passed balls.The Bulldogs responded in the final frame.Sage Hargreaves led off with a walk, Hoffman singled, and Taylor Herman drove in Hargreaves. Paige Hemingway immediately ripped a single that scored two more runs and gave the Bulldogs the lead. Olivia Toth reached on an error, allowing an insurance run to score."It was a big rally, our team is always great and the bench is really loud," said Hargreaves. "We hit when we need to and we always play together."WHO'S IN RIGHT?...NL right fielder Shelbie Hyrowich made a pair of athletic shoe-string catches to limit some Palmerton damage. She made her second during the fifth inning, as she sprinted and stumbled into foul territory. Hyrowich then doubled up a Palmerton base runner to end the frame.MAKING STRIDES… Hock explained that his squad is inching closer to putting together a complete game. "Some of our latest performances are not up to Palmerton's standards," he said. "We played strong for six innings, but when things melted down everyone forgot their roles. If we clean up our act and do what we know how to do, we'll be in the mix. I still have a lot of confidence in this bunch."No. Lehigh 000 020 4 - 6 10 1Palmerton 000 310 0 - 4 6 3Ziegler, K. Hoffman (5), and D.Hoffman; Dugan, Pekurny (6), Dugan (7) and Acker. W - K. Hoffman. L - Pekurny. HR: K.Hoffman (5th inning, one on).