Bethlehem Catholic's 8-6 victory over Jersey Shore in the first round of the PIAA State Class AAA softball playoffs could have gotten ugly last Wednesday at Pates Park in Allentown.

Between a two-run first inning for Jersey Shore, a bases loaded situation for the Bulldogs in the same inning, and a large, loud sea of orange behind them, the Hawks had their work cut out for them from the start.

"They came out strong, and I thought it was going to be a good game, but I knew we'd pull through," said Becahi shortstop Jess Indelicato.

It was Indelicato who scored the first run for the Hawks in the bottom of the first inning, and it was also Indelicato who made a nearly impossible catch for a shortstop near third base in foul territory.

"At first, I thought I wasn't going to get to it, but I knew with my speed, I had a chance," she said.

In the bottom of the second inning, Becahi took a 4-2 lead, beginning with a hit to the outfield by Bethanne Brandstetter that she stretched into a double. Outfielder, Maddie Ensley, laid down a perfect bunt, and Jersey Shore's catcher threw the ball into right field.

Ensley said, "It came off my bat perfectly. I ran my hardest to first base and saw the ball go by."

Jersey Shore's three base hits and one run scored in the third inning prompted Becahi pitching coach Chuck Billy to bring in pitcher, Elyse Cuttic, to relieve Alexa Pannucio.

Cuttic proceeded to hit a triple to the left field corner in the bottom of the third, scoring Tosh Miner. She also had a double in the fifth inning, scoring Brandstetter and Courtney Shupp.

"I was looking for an inside pitch, and I thought [the triple] was going to be a pop-up," said Cuttic. "The double was definitely an inside pitch. I didn't expect it at all."

In the meantime, Cuttic had pitched two 1-2-3 innings, and Becahi led 8-4 heading into the seventh.

Jersey Shore led off with a base hit, but Cuttic struck out the next two batters. That's when things could have gotten ugly again.

A double and another base hit by Jersey Shore cut Becahi's lead to two runs. Cuttic, however, regrouped and struck out the last batter for the victory.

"The hitters at the plate definitely made adjustments. They moved up in the box, so I went to my rise ball," Cuttic said. "I was definitely really excited. I haven't pitched that long."