Bucktail trailed early but a four-run bottom of the fourth gave them a comfortable 7-3 lead which that they used towards a 8-6 win over the Green Dragons, It was just the type of game that Coach Mike Poorman wanted.

“I’ll take a 7 inning game anytime, obviously they came to play” said Poorman following the win. “We gave them lots of opportunities to score runs and they took advantage of some, but I liked liked what I saw overall”.

Poorman made the switch on the mound with just one out in the second inning, sending in Kelsie Wagner to replace workhorse Carrie Ditty, something that he realizes could be key as his team makes a playoff push.

“I liked what I saw out of Kelsie. She gives up some walks, but she spins the ball really well,” said Poorman. “Carrie will bounce back, I’m not worried about her at all, but that’s where were at this point in the year, we have two very capable pitchers.”

KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express Bucktail's Angel Kmetz tries to maneuver around a play at the plate, but Green Dragon catcher Brinely Haile made the play to keep Kmetz from scoring. The Bucks won Monday's contest, 8-6.

Rival Montgomery always seems to be on a postseason schedule for the Bucks and despite the Red Raiders winning the most recent contest, the Bucktail coach says he’d be confident in a rematch.

“That was the game where I realized that we had two pitchers,” said Poorman. “I probably left Carrie in a little too long. That second loss was on me. I’m confident in both of them right now” summed up the coach of his hurlers.

Lewisburg jumped out to a 1-0 lead in a top of the first in an inning. There, Bucktail catcher Eva Sockman picked off a runner at second and a Dragon at first who got caught taking too much of a lead, as the defensive effort thwarted what seemed poised to be a bigger inning for the visitors.

A new rally also seemed imminent in the top of the second when Poorman made the switch on the mound with bases loaded and one out. The freshman Wagner sat down the next two batters on strikeouts, including slugger Brinley Haile.

Offensively, Lola English scored the first run in the bottom of the second and then ripped a triple before stealing home in the third to tie things up at 2-2.

Bucktail’s biggest blow came in the fourth when Eva Sockman picked up a two-RBI single, Kendall Wagner added an RBI single and Kelsie added an RBI triple.

Haile would get some revenge in the top of the sixth when she crushed a three-run homer over the left field fence, but the Bucks held onto the 8-6 win following the blast.

The win improved the Bucks 13-3 with two road games remaining, South Williamsport on Tuesday and Northwest on Thursday. Lewisburg dropped to 4-14 and will host Shikellamy on Thursday.

Bucktail 8, Lewisburg 6

Lewisburg 110 103 0 – 6 7 1

Bucktail 102 410 X – 8 11 0

Ellie Heather, M. Shannon (3). Carrie Ditty, Kelsie Wagner (2) and Eva Sockman. W – Wagner. L – Shannon.

Top Bucktail hitters: Kelsie Wagner 3-4, RBI; Eva Sockman 3-4, run, 4 RBIs; Kendall Wagner 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Carrie Ditty 1-2, run; Angel Kmetz 1-3, RBI; Rebekah Conway 1-3, run; Lola English 1-2, 3 runs. Lewisburg batting: Brinley Haile 2-3, run, HR, 4 RBIs; Siana Turner 1-2, 2 RBIs; Tara Westley run; Herianne Pagan 1-4; Elizabeth Kennedy 1-3, run; Emma Apanel 1-2; Morgan Shannon 1-2, 2 runs.

Bucktail pitching: Kelsie Wagner 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 4 runs, 4 ER, 12 K, 7 BB; Carrie Ditty 1.1 IP 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Lewisburg pitching: Ellie Heather 2 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 ER 0 BB, 1 K; M Shannon 4 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.