Bethlehem Catholic was one out away from extra innings when Northwestern Lehigh shortstop Isabelle Akelaitis’ infield hit was the game winner in the Tigers’ 4-3 over the Golden Hawks in a District XI Class 4A softball semifinal on May 25 at Patriots Park, Allentown.

The Tigers trailed, 3-2, heading to the bottom of the seventh inning when pinch hitter Elizabeth Diehl knocked a double to center field and advanced to third base on a single by Rylee McGinley.

Diehl scored on a passed ball to tie the game, and with two outs and McGinley on second base, Akelaitis drove in the game winner.

“It’s two outs, [the count] is 3-0, either I’m swinging or I’m not, but I took a deep breath, and I said, ‘I can do it. Let’s just relax. If she scores, she scores. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose,’” Akelaitis said.

Marissa Christman’s RBI triple to right field put the Tigers on the scoreboard first, and Abby Dunstan’s follow-up RBI gave Northwestern Lehigh a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Becahi pitcher Hailey Pyle delivered three straight strikeouts in the second inning and belted a solo home run to center field in the fourth to put the Golden Hawks on the board.

Facing bases loaded with no outs, Northwestern pitcher Peyton Neumoyer struck out Becahi’s next two batters before Brooklyn Miller’s RBI single tied the game, 2-2.

In the top of the seventh, Becahi shortstop Sophia Rivera’s RBI single scored Leah Chladny, and the Hawks took their first lead of the game, 3-2.

“Toward the end there, we had the edge, and then, I don’t know,” said Becahi coach Rich Mazza. “They’re a good team, and we beat them twice in playoffs, so I’m sure they wanted to beat us. It was a good game. We played hard.”

Northwestern Lehigh’s victory puts the Tigers in the district final on May 31 when they will face Blue Mountain.

“You’ve got to play this game one inning at a time, and they know if we win the majority of these innings, we’re gonna be just fine and come out on top more often than not,” Northwestern Lehigh coach Josh Zimmerman said.

***

Stroudsburg defeated the second-seeded Freedom Patriots 7-3 last Thursday afternoon.

Dot Elko was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Paige Hromin was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Melissa Elko was 2-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBIs.

Melissa Safin hit a home run with RBIs and Ciara Long was 1-3 with an RBI. Shiloh Wilson went 1-for-2 with a run Scored and an RBI.

Hannah Helm got the win on the mound for the Mounties.

Fifth seed Liberty fell to fourth-seed Emmaus 11-3.