Qualifying for the district tournament might have seemed like a long shot just a coupe of weeks ago. Now, Salisbury entered this week just a win away from qualifying for the postseason.

The Falcons continued their hot streak with an 8-4 nonleague victory over Eastern Pennsylvania Conference foe Whitehall on Saturday afternoon. It was Salisbury’s (7-6) seventh straight win, which includes five in a row in the Colonial League.

There was a chance to extend that winning streak to eight games on Monday and pick up that elusive district-qualifying win. But the Falcons’ game against Palmerton was postponed to Wednesday.

“We beat an EPC team, that’s a good win any way around it,” head coach Mike Pochron said. “I’m very happy with our performance. We threw two young guys today, and they gave us what we needed. A win is a win. So we’re happy to get another W.”

One of those young pitchers was sophomore Andrew Sukanick, who pitched the final four shutout innings after Whitehall scored four in the first three frames. Besides a testy situation in the seventh, one in which Whitehall loaded the bases with two outs and the game-tying run up to bat, Sukanick was on point.

That pressure situation didn’t seem to faze the sophomore, who generally is used as a starting pitcher. Saturday’s game was the third time he entered in relief.

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Sukanick said. “Our defense has been doing pretty good lately.”

Sukanick enjoyed the change of pace to a relief role and thrived in it, allowing four hits and striking out two Zephyrs.

“I actually like it because I get to see the hitters in the first couple of innings,” Sukanick said after replacing Taylor Linn. “I feel more confident coming out because I know what to expect.”

While Whitehall’s offense seemingly disappeared over the final four innings, Salisbury’s started to gain steam. It started with a two-run fifth inning that broke a 4-4 tie.

After Chad Cooperman flew out to right field, Nick Sikora walked and Eric Schware singled to put runners on first and second base. Colin Wagner wasted no time in putting the Falcons in front, this time for good. Wagner drove in Sikora with a single to center field, and Michael Schmidt brought home Schware in the next at-bat for a 6-4 lead.

“I was just looking for a pitch to rip,” Wagner said. “Looking for something to hit and put in play. We scored the run.”

Sikora’s sacrifice fly that scored Joey Galantini in the sixth made it a 7-4 lead, and the Falcons doubled-up Whitehall on Schware’s RBI-single moments later.

“The bats are starting to come alive,” Pochron said. “That’s the biggest thing. We started to get some base hits when we needed them and scored some runs. Earlier [in the season] we weren’t scoring any runs.”

Salisbury went in front 3-2 in the second inning on a Galantini two-run double. Cooperman reached base on a Zephyr error shortly after, allowing Galantini to cross home from third for a 4-2 advantage.

Not even 24 hours prior, Salisbury added their seventh league win, a 3-2 victory over Saucon Valley. The Falcons started 2-6 in league play but suddenly find themselves alive for one of six playoff spots.

“They’re all big, but that one [Friday against Saucon Valley] was a biggie to keep us alive and everything,” Pochron said. “That’s what we wanted.”