The last time Salisbury and Palmerton faced each other, the Lady Falcons exploded for 13 runs in a dominant showing of Colonial League West Division foes.

The rematch saw those same Lady Falcons fail to score a run and manage just one hit for much of Monday’s game. Palmerton, who is now tied with Salisbury at 9-5 in the Colonial League, got a complete game, 12-strikeout performance from starting pitcher Reese Dugan that led the Blue Bombers to a 2-0 victory at Pates Park.

“We have been hitting really well,” Appleman said. “I can’t put my finger on it. For some reason we were very hepped up today. What are you going to do? You’re not going to win with three hits.”

For six innings, Salisbury’s lone hit was Sarah Reilly’s third-inning line drive to right field. It wasn’t until the seventh frame when the Lady Falcons added two more hits.

After a five-game stretch over the past couple weeks that saw those hitting woes pop up for the first time this season, it looked as if Salisbury had reversed that trend. The Lady Falcons scored double digit runs in their last four games, including a 15-3 romp over Saucon Valley last Friday at Pates Park as well.

Instead, Monday’s loss was the second time this season the Lady Falcons were shut out.

“We scored seven runs in five games, and we won three of them,” Appleman said. “Then I decided to take it easy in practices. I wanted them to relax. We played some games and things like that, and they came out and scored 11 runs. I’m like, ‘OK, I’m onto something here.’”

Palmerton, meanwhile, got on the scoreboard in the first inning on a Dugan RBI-single that scored Jordan Boyer. That lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth inning after Alyssa Olewine, who led off with a triple, crossed home on Sadie Heiney’s base hit.

“We have three days of practice before our next game,” Appleman said. “We’ll talk about the approach today and things along those lines.”

Dugan didn’t pitch in the first matchup between the teams. She allowed just eight base runners all game in the rematch.

“She’s hittable, but we just didn’t hit,” Appleman said. “I gave them the weekend off. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

Salisbury certainly had its chances, though. Runners were positioned on first and second in the seventh with two outs. The bases were loaded in the fourth inning with two outs as well after Anna Bishop and Peyton Stauffer walked and Kate Gilligan was hit by a pitch.

Salisbury’s goal of qualifying for the Colonial League tournament is still very much alive. But two tough division games to close out the regular season will be the deciding factor on making in to those playoffs or not.

“It doesn’t take us out of it, but after Palisades we have Northwestern and Southern Lehigh,” Appleman said. “They are going for those spots also. Today was a big game for them.”