Bethlehem Catholic's quest for a state softball championship came to an end last week when the Hawks fell to Nazareth Academy, 2-1, in the Class AAA PIAA state quarterfinal at Lyons Field in Hamburg.

Becahi scored first in the top of the second inning when Joelle Morey's courtesy runner, Ann Li Dietrich, touched the plate on close play on an RBI by Jean Markovic.

But, Nazareth Academy, the District 1 champion, scored two runs in the third inning to take the lead for good. Tamara Jennings' two-run double scored Madeline Miller and Taylor Lichtenhahn and would end up resulting in the victory for the Pandas.

The Hawks had seven hits in the game and certainly had their chances. The girls made contact off Panda pitcher Emily Shellenberger, who registered just one strikeout, but the Nazareth Academy defense didn't commit an error and overall played very well.

Becahi would threaten one last time in the top of the seventh, but the defense of Panda right fielder Molly Scullion perhaps saved the game. After nine-hitter Marissa Merriman singled, Scullion made a shoestring catch on a ball slicing away from her near the right field line for the second out, which came off the bat of leadoff hitter Lauren Visconti. Scullion then raced into the right-center gap to snag a well-hit ball from shortstop Emily Brandstetter to end the game.

Earlier last week, Becahi defeated District 3's Donegal, 5-2, in the first round of state playoffs at Pates Park.

Neither team scored until the fourth inning and fifth innings, getting one run apiece in each.

Kate Yanders' sacrifice fly scored Dietrich, who was running for Morey, and Jackie DeSarro's RBI scored Visconti.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Julia Madison scored on Brandstetter's double to give the Hawks the lead.

Becahi pitcher, Joelle Morey, finished the season and her high school career by tying the school record for pitching victories in a season.

Coached by Rich Mazza, the Hawks ended the season with a record of 24-3 and will graduate six seniors, Morey, Jackie DeSarro, Courtney DuPont, Marissa Merriman, Kate Yanders, and Lauren Visconti.

Scott Pagel contributed to this article