It seemed as if momentum was starting to go Montoursville’s way after Athens had scored six runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead. But as quickly as that momentum for Montoursville seemed to build, Athens extinguished it.

Montoursville grounded into a double play and a possible bases-loaded situation with no outs resulted in one runner on base with two outs. From there, Athens didn’t allow anything to happen as Montoursville had one batter walk before a ground out to first ended the game.

It gave Athens a comeback 7-5 win against Montoursville in the opening game of the Section 3 tournament. With the loss, Montoursville drops into the losers’ bracket and plays on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. at South Williamsport in an elimination game. Athens advances to the winners’ bracket final at 6:30 p.m. at South Williamsport.

“We have to be able to come back from that,” Montoursville manager Travis Sheleman said. “We had a few errors that we don’t normally make and that cost us there.”

Avery Bolser of Montoursville is safe at home against Athens in South Williamsport. Athens won 7-5. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

In the top of the sixth inning, Athens’ Kendall Butcher reached on an out before back-to-back outs via a pop up and a fly to center. But, with two outs, Athens kept battling and didn’t give up. Sadie Wanck, Terri Orshal, Lindsay Ahert and Liv Powers strung together four consecutive hits — doubles by Ahern and Powers — and quickly went from trailing 4-1 to leading 7-4 and shifting the momentum to their side.

Wanck’s RBI single tied the game by driving in Butcher and Ahren’s double brought home Wanck to give Athens a 5-4 lead. Powers’ double into left would bring in both Orshal and Ahren and put Athens ahead by three.

“We know what our girls are capable of and knew it was a matter of time before we put together a good rally,” Athens manager Jason Wanck said. “They never gave up and had a lot of heart to come back like they did.”

Montoursville hoped to rally in the sixth to get the win, but the double play proved to be a huge turning point.

“That was a pivotal play,” Wanck said. “It’s something we practice a lot actually. We were proud we could execute that like normal.”

Alivia Frey of Montoursville singles in the first inning against Athens in South Williamsport. Athens won 7-5. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Montoursville scored a run in the sixth to make it a two-run deficit with two outs when Myla Carey scored on a wild pitch, but that would be the closest Montoursville came to tying the game after a walk put Alivia Frey on base before the game-ending grounder to first base.

“I just told them we’ve already been in this situation at districts,” Sheleman said of falling into the elimination bracket. “We can win our way back out of it like we did then. I’m not overly worried about it.”

Athens opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning. After Sophia Barrett popped out to second, Hadley Liechty reached with a single. She would then score two batters later when Orshal had an RBI single. Athens ended the game with 12 hits and had at least one hit in five of the six innings. The only inning Athens was held without a hit was the third.

After Athens went ahead 1-0, Montoursville scored four runs to take the lead it would hold until the sixth.

Montoursville had its firs three batters reach with Averie Sheleman, Avery Bolsar and Robson reaching base. Sheleman scored a run thanks to a passed ball. After a strikeout and two runners on base, Sophie Hoffman was walked to load the bases again. Alivia Frey then connected with a hard single into left field to drive in two runs before Hoffman would score on a passed ball to put Montoursville ahead, 4-1.

Nayomi Belle of Montoursville tags out Hadley Liecthy of Athens during the third inning in South Williamsport. Athens won 7-5. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“That was big,” Sheleman said of the four-run outburst. “Obviously those were the only runs we scored until that last inning, but we have to be able to score runs more often than that. We can’t wait until the last inning to score.”

In the top of the fourth inning, Montoursville’s Averie Sheleman showed her toughness after getting drilled in her non-throwing hand on a line drive. Despite being hit, Sheleman still was able to turn to fire the ball to first to record an out and stayed in the game from there.

“She’s a tough kid, man,” Sheleman said. “She’s often times one of the smallest kids on the field, but her heart’s the biggest.”

Hits and unlucky bounces against Montoursville proved to be the difference on Tuesday afternoon at South Williamsport. Athens recorded 12 hits to Montoursville’s two, five of those hits for Athens coming in the sixth inning and three in the first.

“Montoursville’s a great team and we knew they were going to come out strong,” Wanck said. “Our girls had a long ride down here, took a little while to wake up, but once they did, they started playing Athens ball and I’m proud of them.”

Averie Sheleman of Montoursville throws in the first inning against Athens in South Williamsport. Athens won 7-5. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Athens was led by Liechty (2 for 3, run), Orshall (2 for 3, run), Ahren (3 for 3, double, RBI, run), Powers (double, two RBIs), McGrath (double, RBI, run), Bickhart (2 for 2, SB), Butcher (2 for 2, two runs, stolen base) and Wanck (1 for 3, RBI, run). Montoursville’s two hits came from Robson (single, two walks, run) and Alivia Frey (single, walk, two RBIs). Montoursville’s Frankie Finick (two walks), Bolsar (two walks, two runs) and Robson all were walked multiple times while Rickerd and Audrina Watson were hit by pitches and Sheleman reached on a walk as well.

Athens 7, Montoursville 5

Athens 100 006 — 7 12 0

Montoursville 400 001 — 5 2 0

Molly McGrath and Sadie Wanok. Averie Sheleman and Avery Bolsar. W: McGrath. L: Sheleman.

Top Athens hitters: Hadley Liechty 2-3, run; Sadie Wanck 1-3, RBI, run; Terri Orshal 2-3, run; Lindsay Ahren 3-3, 2B, RBI, run; Liv Powers 2B, 2 RBIs; Molly McGrath 2B, RBI, run; Haylee Bickhart 2-2, SB; Kendall Butcher 2-2, 2 runs, SB. Top Montoursville hitters: Averie Sheleman BB, run; Avery Bolsar 2 BBs, 2 runs; Sunny Robson 1B, 2 BBs, run; Myla Carey HBP, run; Sophie Hoffman BB, run; Alivia Frey 1B, BB, 2 RBIs; Frankie Finick 2 BBs; Scarlet Rickerd HBP; Audrina Watson HBP.