Trailing 4-2, Tunkhannock then scored three times in the sixth to jump in front 5-4, and held off a late rally by the Cougars. Hazleton Area had the tying run cut down at the plate in the top of the seventh, as Tunkhnannock claimed the win.

The loss, however, did not knock Hazleton Area out of first place in the Division I race. Coughlin was defeated by Berwick, 3-2 and Pittston was drilled by Wyoming Area 15-5 and are both in second place.

Although Hazleton Area had only three hits - Carl Cara triple, and one single apiece from Evan Vigna and Sal Biasi - it made the most of the hits.

The first Cougars rally found T.J. Chirico drawing a walk, and when A.J. Greco bunted for a sacrifice he was safe on an error. Kyle Klein bunted as well and a second Tunkhannock error loaded the bases.

Carl Cara reached on another Tunkhannock error, before Tyler Rubasky was hit with a pitch forcing in a run and with it a 2-0 lead. Matt Barletta would drive in the third run on a fielder's choice groundout.

Hazleton Area padded the lead with another run in the top of the fifth. Cara drew a one-out walk. A walk to Rubasky and a double steal set the tables for Barletta who picked up his second RBI on another fielder's choice groundout.

Alex Zaner and Wes Custer both had two singles for Tunkhannock, Zach Saylor doubled and Rich Condeelis had the other single.

Hazleton Area will host Wyoming Area Monday.

HAHS..................003 010 0 - 4 3 1

TAHS...................000 023 x - 5 6 3

Johnson, Yanac (5), Thrash (6) and Rubasky; McClain and Custer.

W - McClain. L - Thrash.