ROBINSON TWP — Knoch baseball coach George Bradley knows what type of play is required to reach the WPIAL championship game.

He did not see it Tuesday night.

Offensively, the Knights managed just four hits and they committed two errors leading to five unearned runs as Blackhawk toppled the defending district champions 7-2 in a Class AAA semifinal playoff at the Burkett Athletic Complex.

“I just told the guys that I wasn't happy with them,” Bradley said. “Blackhawk is a good team and likes to play small ball. They knock the ball around and force you to make plays and we didn't tonight.”

The Knights' brief 1-0 lead was erased in the bottom of the second inning. Hunter Hagy tied the game with a single that scored Dalton Smith. With two outs, Adam Robinson reached on a throwing error that allowed Robert Swinderman to score.

But it was the Cougars' four-run third inning that staggered the Knights (14-7).

Blackhawk (18-4) had a runner at second base with two outs when a fielding miscue extended the inning. Hagy reached on a fielder's choice when Knoch third baseman Jake Herrit fielded his groundball and was late in his attempt to force out Jimmy Nixon at third base.

With the bases loaded, Tyler Robinson drove in Nixon with an infield single. Adam Robinson then cleared the bases with a three-run triple to left-center and the Knights were staring at a 6-1 deficit.

“That triple was big,” said Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia. “Without it, we're only up (3-1) and Knoch would have the momentum after stranding three runners.”

The runs were charged to starting pitcher Alex Stobert, who lasted just one batter into the fourth inning.

“Without those early errors, we'd still have been in the game,” said Bradley.

It was up to Knoch's bats to rally the team, but Blackhawk pitcher Mark Engel silenced them for much of the night.

Dylan Swarmer pulled the Knights to within 6-2 with a base hit that plated Nick Guercio in the top of the fourth, but Engel induced Logan Hickey to groundout, stranding runners at second and third.

The only baserunner Engel permitted over the final three innings was Mike McCarty, who singled in the fifth but was thrown out trying to stretch his base hit into a double.

Engel ended the game with six strikeouts while walking two.

“He didn't have his good stuff early on,” Amalia said, “but once he got going, he started hitting his spots. He's now given up just one earned run in his last four appearances. He did an unbelievable job against a very good team tonight.”

Jeremy Frazier finished the game on the mound for Knoch, limiting the Cougars to one run over the final three innings.

The Knights are still the defending state champions and will have to defeat rival Mars in next week's consolation game to gain entry into the PIAA tournament.

“I don't know if our guys will be motivated for that game,” admitted Bradley. “We're going to give them (today) off and we'll see.”

Knoch 010 100 0 — 2 4 2

Blackhawk 024 001 x — 7 9 3

W: Mark Engel 7 IP (6K, 2BB). L: Alex Stobert 3+ IP (0K, 1BB).

Knoch (14-7): Mike McCarty 1B, Nick Guercio 1B 2R, Dylan Swarmer 1B RBI, Andy Pipes 1B

Blackhawk (18-4): Adam Robinson 2B 3B 3RBI, Nick Zuchelli R, Mike Turconi 1B, Jimmy Nixon 1B R, Mark Engel 1B 2B RBI, Robert Swinderman 1B 2R, Hunter Hagy 1B R RBI, Tyler Robinson 1B R RBI, Dalton Smith R

Next: Knoch vs. Mars, WPIAL Class AAA consolation game, TBD