The Liberty Hurricanes won their first game of the East Penn Conference softball playoffs against Whitehall, 4-0, last Friday at Liberty before losing to Emmaus 3-2 in the semifinal on Monday night at Pates Park.

The Hornets had a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning until Liberty catcher Cailin Donegan tied the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Emmaus’s Abby Bartels hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning, and Liberty left two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth.

On Friday against Whitehall, Hurricane outfielder Reyna DeJesus had a triple, and third baseman Kristin Kaleycik and Donegan had a double apiece.

Paige Zigmund was the winning pitcher and had a bases loaded-strikeout in the fifth inning.

“I didn’t want them to score on us because we didn’t have that many runs,” Zigmund said. “It was a high fastball. I was so excited because I think the count was 2-2, and I didn’t want to walk her.”

In the top of the sixth inning, Liberty shortstop Alexa Berger threw a Whitehall runner out at home after DeJesus stopped a ball hit past the infield.

Liberty right fielder Mikayla Ruppert scored the Hurricanes’ final run, also in the sixth inning.

“I’m glad I could help Paige out because when we get runners in, it keeps her head up,” said Ruppert, who bunted her way on first base. “No one expects it, and Coach Sam lets me decide which side to do it.”

The Hurricanes will now compete in the district tournament, which is scheduled to begin on May 22.