ADAMS TWP — Mars shortstop Isabella Berkopec couldn't corral a fly ball that resulted in the Knoch softball team plating two runs in the fourth inning Friday at Mars.

There wasn't much trepidation in the Planets' freshman over the result of the play.

She believed Mars, with its powerful lineup, would pick her up.

“We trust each other more in the lineup,” Berkopec said. “We know everybody can hit the ball one through nine. If one person isn't hitting, the next person behind them can pick them right back up.”

The Planets responded with two insurance runs and held on for a 7-6 Section 5-AAA win.

Mars has a .403 team batting average and has plated 32 runs during its current three-game winning streak.

“We really don't have any holes in the lineup,” said freshman Lindy Lee, who drove in two runs against the Knights. “Everyone works together. We all get up on the fence and cheer for each other.”

The Planets have six players — Suzanne Papik (.500), Mallory Eperesi (.483), Maggie Olshenske (.475), Marina Manupelli (.429), Niki Schlegel (.421) and Berkopec (.417) — with at least 25 at-bats who hit .400 or better.

Mars (7-4, 6-1) had eight players contribute to its 12 hits against Knoch.

“On any given day, we can rely on anyone to start the madness,” Planets coach Michele Goodworth said. “They feed off each another. When one person gets on base, the next person gets on base.”

Eperesi started the madness with a single in the first inning.

One batter later, Berkopec set a pitcher screaming over the left-field fence for her first varsity home run.

“I saw that I could have hit it pretty well,” said Berkopec about the pitch. “It came in and was right down the middle.”

Lee stretched the lead to 5-0 in the third by doubling of Knights pitcher Shelby Bruggeman to score Schlegel and Manupelli.

“The pitches weren't too crazy for us,” Lee said. “We were all comfortable with her speed and everything.”

Knoch (7-7, 4-4) turned things around in the fourth.

Abbie Thrower hit a one-out double off Schlegel. Avery Keller followed with a double and Chandler Krelow singled to cut the lead to 5-2.

Abigail Black hit a fly ball toward the edge of the infield that Berkopec couldn't bring in to cut the score to 5-4.

“A sign of a good team is being able to overcome obstacles and having a tough inning,” Goodworth said. “We're able to keep battling and battling and that's the sign of the team we have here.”

Papik picked up Berkopec by leading off the next half-inning with a triple.

She scored on a groundout by Eperesi.

Papik also led off the sixth with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 7-5.

Keller hit a two-out single in the top of the seventh to cut the lead in half.

Schlegel, who finished with six strikeouts to earn the win, then got Krelow to fly out to third base to end the game.

It was a tough loss for Knoch, which has lost six section games by one run in the past two seasons.

The Knights need a win over Indiana Tuesday to secure a playoff bid.

“These girls are told from day one to battle all seven innings,” Knights coach Tim Knappenberger said. “They did that. I couldn't be more proud of them. ”

Knoch 000 410 1 — 6 10 1

Mars 212 101 x — 7 12 1

W: Niki Schlegel 7IP (6K, 0BB). L: Shelby Bruggeman 6IP (0K, 1BB).

Knoch (7-7, 4-4): Abbie Thrower 2-1B 2B RBI, Avery Keller 1B 2B 2 RBI, Chandler Krelow 1B, Shelby Bruggeman 1B, Sydney Natili 1B 2B, Hayle Fox 1B

Mars (7-4, 6-1): Mallory Eperesi 1B RBI, Isabelle Berkopec 2-2B HR 2 RBI, Schlegel 1B 2B, Katelyn Hoover 1B, Marina Manupelli 1B, Lindy Lee 1B 2-2B 2-RBIs, Suzanne Papik 1B 3B, Maggie Olshensky RBI.

Tuesday: Highlands at Mars; Knoch at Indiana