Emmaus softball head coach John Eyer has been preaching to his players that they need to finish games. With five of the Hornets’ six losses coming by four runs or less, the Green Hornets need to be able to finish games stronger in order to pick up some much-needed wins.

“We’ve been right there in most or all of our games this season,” said Eyer. “Besides the opener, we’ve lost by four runs or less, and played Parkland to the very end last week.”

Last Monday night against Stroudsburg, the Green Hornets (4-6 overall, 3-5 EPC) fell behind and had to battle back.

Emmaus scored 12 runs in its last two innings, highlighted by a three-run home run from senior catcher Erin Schmick to beat the Mounties 13-8 at Pates Park.

“We’ve been struggling all season,” said Eyer. “Our bats came around at the end when we needed them, but we got behind early and made some mistakes and we can’t do that. One thing these girls do though is battle, and they battled back tonight. I’m proud of them.”

Stroudsburg jumped ahead 3-0 in the top of the second inning. The Mounties loaded the bases with no outs and had a sacrifice fly followed by two unearned runs from infield errors.

The Green Hornets got one back in the bottom of the fourth when Schmick followed a leadoff double by Alexis Ruth with an RBI single.

The Mounties added another run the following frame to bring their lead back to 4-1.That’s when the Emmaus bats came alive.

In the bottom of the fifth, Miranda O’Donald and Cassie Burke walked and both stole bases to put runners on second and third. Madison Clark ripped a single up the middle, scoring both runners to bring the deficit to 4-3.

After Ruth reached safely, Schmick smacked a three-run home run to give Emmaus its first lead of the game at 6-4. The Hornets added another run in the inning off an RBI double from Brooke Iobst, bringing home Alyssa Krasnansky, who doubled the at-bat before.

“I’ve been telling them that good teams know how to fight back and finish games,” Eyer said. “They’re learning how to do those things lately.

“Erin [Schmick] had a great night at the plate for us, and we needed that from her.”

Stroudsburg added a run in the top of the sixth, but Emmaus put up another six runs in the bottom of the inning Schmick and Abby Bartels both had two RBI hits as the Green Hornets took control and held on for the win.

Sarah Mohr came in to pitch an inning and two thirds in relief of starter Hannah Palinkas, who went five and one third innings and struck out four batters.

“She battled for us,” Eyer stated. “She struggled in the first two innings, but she is just a freshman. She did some good things for us.”