Late offense propelled Emmaus to a come-from-behind, 9-5 win over Whitehall Thursday (April 30) in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Lehigh Division softball showdown.

The Green Hornets scored four runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game before adding two runs in each in the sixth and seventh innings.

“The hitting came around,” said Rich Giering, Emmaus head coach. “We did a good job of swinging the bats. We always have good games with Whitehall.”

Emmaus, playing as the visiting team at home due to a late location change, scored first when Bri Gitski singled and scored on a Mari Eiswerth sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning.

Whitehall answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Morgan Laub singled and Amya Espinal walked with two outs. Then, Alyssa Dunbar brought home both base runners with a two-run triple.

Strong defense from Whitehall kept it a 2-1 game in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and one out after singles from Mari Eiswerth and Morgan Schwab, third baseman Corynn Troxell threw out courtesy runner Marissa Gigliotti at home to maintain the Zephyr lead.

Emmaus broke through in the fifth. After back-to-back singles from Haleigh Gigliotti and Taylor Hauver led off the inning, Abby Derr’s double scored Gigliotti. Mari Eiswerth then doubled to bring home Hauver and Derr. A Schwab single brought home another run to give Emmaus a 5-2 lead.

“Those two run really well,” Giering said of Hauver and Gigliotti. “Taylor’s a three-year starter. Haleigh played a little bit last year and she just came back after injury. Then, we have Bri (Gitski) who has been playing really well.”

The Hornets added two runs in the sixth inning. Haleigh Gigliotti again singled and Hauver doubled to lead off the inning. Gitski singled to bring home Gigliotti and Derr hit a sacrifice fly to score Hauver.

In the top of the seventh, Emmaus added another pair of runs to make it 9-2. Haleigh Gigliotti and Hauver both reached for the third consecutive inning and scored on singles from Gitski and Derr.

Whitehall closed the gap with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Josie Shultz reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a two-out triple from Laub. Espinal followed with a two-run home run to end the scoring.

Mari Eiswerth had three RBI for the Hornets, while also pitching a complete game, striking out eight.

“Pitching is the ‘A’ part of the game and we have one of the top two in the league, I think,” said Giering. “They see the pitching, but they don’t see the hitting that comes on top of that (for Eiswerth).”

Derr also had three RBIs and Gitski knocked in two runs. Haleigh Gigliotti and Hauver each scored three times for the Hornets.

With the win, Emmaus remains on top in the EPC Lehigh Division as the regular season comes to a close.

“We have had some close games,” Giering said. “I think that has really helped us get ready (for the postseason), so when we are in tight games, we’re good.”

In other recent games, Emmaus beat Dieruff 15-0 last week and finished the regular season with an 8-0 win over Parkland.

In the win over Dieruff last Tuesday, April 28, Julia DeFanti went 2-for-2 and drove in five runs while also reaching base once on a walk. Hauver and Gitski both went 2-for-4 with two RBI each. Hauver scored four times in the win. Gitski scored twice. Calise Eiswerth went 2-for-3 against the Huskies.

Calise Eiswerth pitched all four innings, allowing one hit while striking out five batters and walking none.

In the win over Parkland Monday, Emmaus took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, tacked on another in the fourth and added insurance with a four-run sixth inning.

DeFanti went 3-for-3 with three RBI against Parkland. Hauver was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Sydney Bennett had two hits and scored three runs. Gitski had two hits against the Trojans.

Mari Eiswerth allowed just two Parkland hits over seven innings while striking out 14 Trojans and walking three.

The Hornets went unbeaten in EPC play this season at 15-0 and were 16-3 overall. They will be the top seed for the league playoffs, which begin with quarterfinals later this week.