Lower Mac’s Ryan Kasye didn’t view Saturday’s legion game against Emmaus so much as a rivalry. It was more fun for Kasye and the Mustangs.

And Kasye believes that when Lower Mac is having fun, it’s at its best.

Despite a comeback from Emmaus that saw the Hornets score two runs in the seventh inning, Lower Mac (2-4) held on for a 5-4 win at Limeport Stadium in the first of four games of a Lehigh Valley Legion rivalry day.

“It’s actually more fun, I would say, than a rivalry,” said Kasye, who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. “When we have fun, we’re obviously going to start playing better. And if we can play fun, we’ll play better all of the time.”

Lower Mac also had some luck on its side late in the game. Despite taking a 5-2 lead into the seventh inning, Emmaus didn’t go away without a fight.

With the bases loaded and just one out, Steven Doddy blooped a singled into right field that scored Matthew Madigan and Jimmy Braxmeier. The two runs got the Hornets within 5-4 with runners on the corners and just one out.

Emmaus’ David Cobb belted a hard-hit line drive right at Lower Mac’s second baseman, who was able to turn the double play at first base to end the game.

The win helped Lower Mac get back on track after a rough start to the season. The Mustangs scored just one run total in its first three games.

“It was a lot of guys not there, too,” Kasye said. “Basically our lineup was our No. 1 and No. 2 hitters, and then pitchers throughout the rest. We took the first couple of games almost as a scrimmage to be honest. We didn’t really have a team to hit, so it was more about just getting out there for the first couple of games.”

The Mustangs were still without Braden Waller, arguably their best pitcher, and No. 3 hitter Brandon Robinson. Both were participating in the Carpenter Cup last week and missed Saturday’s game.

But a big day from Kasye helped disguise those absences.

Tied 1-1 after three innings, Lower Mac scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning in large part to three Emmaus errors.

Then in the fifth, the bats came alive. Keegan Nytz led off the frame with a double to right field. Kasye brought home Nytz during the next at-bat with a single to center field to put Lower Mac back in front, 4-1. Jaden Diaz gave the Mustangs a four-run cushion when he lined a single down the left field line to score Kasye.

“Getting out there nice and early today woke me up finally,” Kasye said. “As soon as we’re here it’s a different story. You can see the ball better, I feel like, than you can at night. It was nice and sunny.”

Emmaus scored a run in the bottom of the fifth after Madigan reached base on an error.