It was just Taylor Linn's second game at the varsity level since being called up from the JV squad.

The freshman couldn't have come up with a bigger play than he did during Salisbury's 6-5 comeback victory over Catasauqua on Friday, a game that could keep the Falcons in the playoff race.

Trailing 5-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, Salisbury rallied for four runs in the inning. Linn's dribbler to the pitchers mound brought home Nick Sikora, the game's winning run, and capped the Falcons' improbable win.

"I was just trying to make contact and get the run in from home," Linn said.

Both teams entered Friday's contest with identical 4-3 records in the Colonial League. Both were in the hunt for one of the final six league playoff spots.

And while their game against Catasauqua was just the midway point of the season, the Falcons understood the importance of the crucial meeting against the Rough Riders. Their 5-0 win over Moravian the next day positioned the Falcons as the No. 4 seed with nearly three weeks left in the season.

"Every game is important, but this one would've been more important for the playoffs," senior Mike Palmer said. "We set the tone for the season, and it is a good advantage going into the second half of the year."

Everything seemed to go Salisbury's way in the seventh, and it started with Joey Galantini's single to shortstop that hit off a Rough Riders' glove. Carlos Santiago then walked, and Evan Kulig's bloop single found grass just over the Catasauqua second baseman's head.

After Chase Rogers was hit by a pitch to score Galantini, Sikora's fielder's choice scored Santiago to make it 5-4. Mike Palmer (3-for-4) then lined a single just inches inside the third-base line to score Rogers and tie the game at 5-5.

"We just had a few hits that fell in and went run under their gloves," Palmer said. "They couldn't make the plays, and we capitalized on it. We had a couple good hits. Linn came up big with that hit toward the second baseman, and he couldn't make the play."

Linn, who was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly prior to that final at-bat, put the final stamp on the game.

Catasauqua's Dakota Schiffer kept the Falcons' bats in check for much of the game. Salisbury had just two hits through four innings. But as the game progressed, the Falcons watched as Catasauqua's ace began to wear down.

"Coach [Bob Sopko] was saying that the pitcher was wearing down, and to just wait for that curveball inside," Palmer said. "I didn't get the curveball, but I was able to get an inside fastball. I pulled it right down the line."

The Rough Riders took a quick 2-0 lead in the third after recording three hits. Kulig entered in the fourth, but the Roughs continued their scoring barrage with three more hits and three runs (two unearned) in the frame.

Rogers replaced Kulig in the fifth and allowed just one hit and struck out four over the final three innings.

"Our confidence definitely increased," Palmer said. "After the first couple of innings, we weren't getting the bat on the ball. Once Joey [Galantini] started it off, we just kept rolling."

Salisbury travels to Northern Lehigh on Wednesday looking to strengthen its hold on a playoff spot. Game time is 4 p.m.