Jon Benitez is familiar with a number of the players on the West Allentown legion baseball team.

When Salisbury faced West Allentown on Friday, perhaps there was some extra motivation for Benitez. He came through with the game's biggest play when it mattered most.

Locked in a 4-4 tie heading into the sixth inning, Benitez drove his third hit of the game into centerfield that scored CJ Tocci and solidified a 5-4 victory for the Falcons on Thursday at Salisbury High School. The win evened the Falcons' record at 1-1 in the Lehigh Valley Legion Baseball League after a 7-2 loss against Fullerton to open the season.

"I always like playing with these guys," Benitez said. "They're always my friends. It's always good to get a couple hits off of them, and drive as many runs in as I can."

The Falcons have since lost to South Parkland and defeated Coplay to hold a 2-2 record.

One of the biggest stories of the game was the Falcons' ability to produce key two-out runs as the game progressed.

In the sixth inning, West Allentown pitcher Justin Kratz struck out Kyle Hartzell and got Adam Ebner to pop-out in foul territory for two quick outs. But Tocci then reached base on an error, and Jeff Trexler walked to set the stage for Benitez's final plate appearance.

The Falcons scored three runs with two outs on the board.

"Since I've known Kratz, he always throws me first-pitch and second-pitch curveballs," Benitez said. "So I was looking for a fastball on the third pitch right away, and as soon as he threw it, I hit it.

"When you can get a good swing on the ball with two outs and you drive in an RBI, it's always good."

Benitez also pitched the first five innings for the Falcons, allowing four runs (two earned) and striking out five batters.

After West Allentown took a 4-3 lead through four innings, the Falcons wasted no time in tying it back up. Alex Kubinec connected on a two-out single to left field that scored Benitez for the game-tying run.

"Even with two outs, you still have to finish the inning," said Chris Bishop, who picked up the win in relief. "It's just about staying composed and doing what you do in practice."

Kratz scored both West Allentown runs in the first two innings, but two Falcon runs in the first and a groundout for Adam Ebner in the second scored a run and gave Salisbury a 3-2 lead.

Bishop, who allowed five runs in the seventh inning against Fullerton, saw an opportunity to make up for it against West Allentown. He pitched a hitless sixth and seventh innings for the Falcons, and he and Benitez allowed just two total hits in the final five frames.

"I wanted to come out this game and definitely throw a good game for the team," Bishop said. "I didn't want to blow a lead like that.

"I just felt really good warming up and throwing. My curveball was definitely better than yesterday. I was hitting spots better."

Benitez went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Mike Palmer recorded two hits and a RBI.

Results from Tuesday's game against Southern Lehigh were not available at time of press. Wednesday's game against North Parkland started a stretch of games on three consecutive days for the Falcons. Game time is 6 p.m. at Parkland Middle School.