Catasauqua nearly overcame a six-run deficit in the seventh inning in an 8-7 loss to Bangor in Colonial League baseball Monday at home.

Down to their final out and trailing 8-2, the Rough Riders scored five runs in the final frame before the Slaters got the last out with the tying run on third base.

“That is why I have preached to them from day one that you have to play every pitch, every out of every inning because you never know when it is over,” said Steve Bradley, Catasauqua manager. “I credit my team for not giving up, for staying in it, throughout the game.”

Asael Gonzalez and Reece Lopez both got hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh. After Bangor got the next two outs, Trever Hartzell walked to load the bases. Cody Roth singled to score both Gonzalez and Lopez and cut the Slater lead to 8-4. Pinch hitter Alex Bolmer walked to reload the bases and Reese Savercool singled to score Hartzell, cutting the Catty deficit to three.

When Evan Reed put the ball in play and reached on an error, Bolmer and Savercool both scored to make it 8-7, Bangor. Coming back up for the second time in the inning, Gonzalez put the ball in play to third base. However, Bangor’s Lincoln Rehrig made the play at first to end the comeback.

The Rough Riders had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Gonzalez walked and came around to score on a passed ball and Max Bergman, running for Joey Conway who reached on a passed ball third strike, scored on an error.

Bangor took the lead in the third inning, scoring four runs. Brodie Kruger’s two-run single scored Jaxson Kreider and Chayse Panczer. Two hitters later, Rehrig doubled to bring home Kruger and Gino Merlo. However, a strong Catty relay throw got Rehrig at third base to end the inning.

The Slaters added another run in the fourth inning on a single from Panczer that scored Cooper Karasek, who had led off the inning with a walk.

It stayed a 5-2 game until the top of the seventh, when Bangor scored three runs that would prove to be the difference. Karasek’s two-run single scored Kruger and Merlo. Then, Preston Rogers singled to bring home what turned out to be the winning run.

Joey Conway started on the mound for the Rough Riders, allowing five runs in three-plus innings. Reese Savercool pitched the final four innings, allowing three runs.

Owen Mera started for Bangor, allowing two runs in five innings. Kreider pitched 1-plus innings, allowing two runs. John Koehler and Merlo finished off the seventh inning for the Slaters.

The game also marked Senior Day for Catasauqua’s three seniors: Luis Collazo, Reece Lopez and Evan Reed.

“You form tight bonds with these kids over four years,” Bradley said. “Evan missed the last two years with injuries and was chomping at the bit to come back and play for us. He’s played a lot for us. Reece lives three doors down from me and I see him all summer. He’s been starting for four years and he’s a fantastic kid. Then, Luis, you do not find a finer athlete, a finer kid. They are all raised well. They have great parents. It is tough to see these kids go.”

The last four years have represented a special time, said Catty’s three seniors.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but it’s honestly been a great memory, having fun playing every year with these guys,” said Luis Colazzo.

For Reece Lopez, it has been about teammates.

“I grew up with our coach right across the street and I grew up with these two playing baseball, so it has been great,” Lopez said.

Finally, coming back this year has meant a lot to Reed.

“It’s been a pleasure coming back here,” said Reed. “I skipped a few years, but I am back and I had a blast going out with these two.”

Catasauqua was slated to get right back on the field Tuesday at Southern Lehigh.

“I think today our kids left it on the field,” Bradley said. “We made a lot of little mistakes. Little mistakes throughout the game hurt us. We talked about it after the game. We have to clean it up.”

Bangor was also scheduled to return to action on Tuesday against Pen Argyl.