Jersey Shore scored all nine runs with two outs, including seven during its final two at-bats at Cipriany Field. Mya Lehman belted a clutch go-ahead, two-run, sixth inning single and Lexi Frey scattered seven hits against a dangerous offense as Jersey Shore won a 9-7 thriller over Loyalsock, avenging two previous losses against the defending District 4 Class AAA champions.

“You just have to trust that you know what you’re doing when you’re on the field, whether defense or at the plate,” Lehman said. “You just have to believe you will do it.”

Jersey Shore (12-4) carried that belief throughout the game, erasing a 3-0 first inning deficit before holding off a furious seventh inning Lancer rally. The Bulldogs turned a 3-2 fifth inning deficit into a 9-4 lead entering that final inning before Loyalsock scored three times with no outs following a Kinsie Phillips two-run double and Shlya Fulp single.

Again, though, when Loyalsock (12-5) turned up the heat, Jersey Shore stayed cool. Third baseman Aubree Reichard made a tremendous catch, going to her left and snaring a Lydia Kresock liner while saving a run for the first out. Frey dialed back in from there, inducing consecutive grounders to herself and second baseman Lydia Clark as Jersey Shore won its third consecutive game and fifth in six tries.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Easton Waller starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Jersey Shore at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

“I trusted them. I trust my defense,” Frey said after striking out six. “That’s really all it is.”

“Frey pitched a heck of a game. She’s been doing really well for us,” Jersey Shore coach Chris Lorson said. “She had a couple big hits, too.”

Frey certainly did. Three of them to be exact. The junior pitcher excelled in all facets, reaching base four times, going 3 for 4 and scorching a two-out, RBI sixth inning single which made it, 6-4.

Reichard followed with an RBI single. An error and a wild pitch gave Jersey Shore two huge insurance runs as it went ahead, 9-4.

Down but not out, Loyalsock regrouped and answered. Addi Barowy reached on an error, Easton Waller walked and Phillips slammed her two-run double to the center field fence at one of District 4’s most cavernous fields. Fulp then ripped an RBI single and, in a flash, Loyalsock trailed 9-7 with the tying run at the plate and no outs.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Makayla Wrench beats the tag at third attempted by Loyalsock's Kinsie Phillips during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

“I was really proud of the way my team competed right to the final pitch,” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said. “A lot of teams might have folded down 9-4 in the last inning and they fought back and battled and made a great run at it.”

Frey repeatedly delivered in big moments and remained unfazed after Loyalsock went up 3-0 in the first. Addi Barowy walked, Waller hit an RBI single, Phillips singled and both scored on RBI grounders from Fulp and Kresock, respectively.

From there, Frey went into lock down-mode. The right-hander threw four straight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. She did not allow another earned run until the seventh with Loyalsock making it a 5-4 game in the sixth following two, two-out errors. Frey also struck out two batters in each inning from the fourth through the sixth.

She produced No. 6 at a perfect time and stranded the go-ahead runners in the sixth.

“I think I was just in a groove,” Frey said. “The energy in the dugout and on the field was really flowing through me.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sophia Miller takes over throwing for Loyalsock during a high school softball game against Jersey Shore at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

It struck Lehman like a 1.21 jiga watt bolt in the fifth inning, while changing the game. Loyalsock first baseman Maddie Wertz made a terrific play and cut down a lead runner at third base for the inning’s first out, but Sophia Miller reached on the play and Frey singled before Sophia Wrench (2 runs) was hit by a pitch.

That set the stage for Lehman who came up with two outs. A player who has excelled offensively and defensively all season, Lehman experienced another fabulous senior moment and scorched her two-run single into center field, giving Jersey Shore its first lead. Annika Clark followed with an opposite field single and Jersey Shore led, 5-3.

“I better hit the ball. That’s all I was thinking,” Lehman said. “It felt good to help my team and support it any way I can.”

“Hat’s off again to Mya,” Lorson said. “It’s her senior year; it’s her last ride and she’s having one heck of a year.”

Jersey Shore chipped away after falling behind early, scoring runs in the first and second innings courtesy of a two-out error and two-out Lynna Clark RBI walk. Still, the Bulldogs struggled the first four innings to generate much offense, Frey’s third-inning single being its only hit.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Lexi Frey starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

Instead of growing discouraged, Jersey Shore players grew more determined. Previous at-bats were learning experiences and the Bulldogs turned negatives into positives, collecting six hits in their final two at-bats. Five players delivered a hit during that stretch and Jersey Shore delivered in tense moments again, winning its third straight game by two runs or less.

“Even when we had to switch players out, we were able to do well,” Frey said. “It just shows how we’re ready and paying attention.”

And while it had some defensive miscues, Jersey Shore also made terrific plays. Reichard highlighted that in the final inning, as did center fielder Zoe Lehman who sprinted back, extended her glove high and made a fabulous catch which took away a potential fourth inning Wertz double. The value of that play shined through a batter later when Sophia Miller singled. Instead of a run coming home, Frey came back the next batter and produced an inning-ending strikeout, keeping it, 3-2.

“I told them after this win today that this is the best game we played all year,” Lorson said. “Hopefully, it opens all their eyes and they see and believe what they’re capable of doing because Loyalsock is a great team.”

Jersey Shore 9, Loyalsock 7

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Sydney Brungard dives back to first as Loyalsock's Mo Wertz attempts the tag during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

Loyalsock 300 001 3–7 7 3

Jersey Shore 110 034 x–9 7 4

Easton Waller, Sophia Miller (6) and Shyla Fulp. Lexi Frey and Annika Clark. W–Frey (8-2). L–Waller (8-3).

Top Loyalsock hitters: Waller 2-3, BB, RBI, 2 runs; Kinsie Phillips 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Fulp 1-4, 2 RBIs; Lydia Kresock 1-4, RBI, run; Miller 1-4; Addi Barowy 2 runs. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Frey 3-4, RBI; Mya Lehman 1-4, 2 RBIs; Dani Miller 1-3, BB, 2 runs; Aubree Reichard 1-4, 3B, RBI, run; Clark 1-3, RBI, run; Sophia Wrench 2 runs.

Records: Jersey Shore (12-4), Loyalsock (12-5).

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Easton Waller starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Jersey Shore at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Maddi Thomas slides into second as Loyalsock's Maddy Williams (11) attempts the tag during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Lexi Frey starts out in the circle during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Sophia Miller dives back to first as Loyalsock's Mo Wertz attempts the tag during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Sophia Wrench makes the tag at first on Loyalsock's Maddy Williams during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock players players high five during a high school softball game against Jersey Shore at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Lynna Clark beats the tag at third attempted by Loyalsock's Addi Barroway during a high school softball game at Jersey Shore on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Lexi Frey is congratulated by coach Frank Stetts after hitting a single to drive in a run during a high school softball game against Loyalsock at Jersey Shore on Thursday.