RECAP >> A six-run fourth inning by Emmaus proved to be the difference as the Hornets opened up the District XI Class 6A playoffs with an 11-3 win over Liberty in a matchup of the No.4 vs the No.5 seed on Thursday afternoon at Williams Street Field in Emmaus.
The victory advances fourth-seeded Emmaus (15-7) to the semifinals at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Pates Park where they’ll face top-seeded Nazareth, which rolled to an 8-0 shutout win over ninth-seeded Pleasant Valley.
In the other semifinal two lower seeds advanced as seventh-seeded Stroudsburg upset second-seeded Freedom 7-3 and sixth-seeded Easton knocked off third-seeded Northampton 6-1.
Junior pitcher Autumn Held pitched a complete game in leading the Hornets to the victory as she limited Liberty to just three runs and scattered eight hits.
Senior second baseman Daria Krout went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, while classmate catcher Mason Roselli also drove in two runs. Senior left fielder Alexis Schoonover also had two RBI.
After Liberty had tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the third inning, Emmaus exploded for six runs in the fourth and then added three more in the fifth to put the game away.
Liberty was led on offense by freshmen pitcher Adelynn Smith and third baseman Adrianna ONeill who each had two hits. Smith suffered the loss in the circle after giving up seven runs on five hits in just three innings of work. The Hurricane ended their season at 13-8.
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Emmaus 11, Liberty 3
Lib – 011 001 0 – 3-8-2
Em – 020 630 – 11-8-5
Lib – Adelynn Smith (3IP, 5H, 7R, 3K), Miya Williams (3 IP, 3H, 4R, 2K) and Madison Noll; Em – Autumn Held (7 IP, 8H, 3R, 2BB) and Mason Roselli. LP – Smith