ADAMS TWP — Amanda Fischer could have thrown harder.

She didn't care.

“I was just concentrating on throwing strikes and giving my teammates hit balls they could field.”

Knoch's senior pitcher did exactly that, striking out seven and allowing only three hits in four innings of relief Friday at Mars. The effort enabled the Knights to register a come-from-behind 7-5 softball victory over the Planets.

Knoch's first two pitchers walked six in three innings as Mars was able to build a 5-2 lead.

“The ball was wet and it was cold out here,” Knoch coach Gary Coe said. “This isn't softball weather. It's football weather.

“Amanda is our hardest-throwing pitcher. Her pitches can be faster than they were today. But she was effective.”

Fischer walked only one in her four innings of work. Mars pitcher Emilee Waldrop went the distance and walked five.

“It's always windy up here (on Mars' field),” Planets coach Michele Goodworth said. “That's just the way it is.”

A two-out, bases-loaded single to center by Waldrop gave Mars (1-2) its 5-2 lead. The margin could have been greater, but an accurate relay to the plate cut down Abby Gehr trying to score from second.

Monica Gourley walked to lead off the Knoch fifth and scored on Erin Luffy's ground ball. It was Luffy's third RBI of the day and she reached on an error. Luffy came around to score on a Quinn Hughes double to cut Mars' lead to 5-4.

Knoch (2-0) took the lead in the seventh. Bailey Rickenbrode doubled down the left field line and Luffy walked. Olivia Vissari grounded a single into right field to tie the game. Hughes reached on an infield single to load the bases.

A bunt single by Marissa Melius gave the Knights the lead. A bases-loaded walk to Fischer forced home Knoch's seventh run.

Knoch has scored 21 runs in its first two games.

“We can hit,” Coe said. “That is definitely one of the strengths of this team.”

Fischer allowed a one-out infield single to Julia Maple in the bottom of the seventh, then slammed the door.

“This is big for us,” Fischer said of the comeback win. “We showed ourselves what we can do if we stay with it. This will give us confidence.”

Mars does not have a senior on its roster.

“We're a young team and it's early in the season, so it's hard to tell why we didn't hit very well today,” Goodworth said. “She (Fischer) came in and threw strikes. We just didn't get any hits.”

Alaina Talor had two singles and scored two runs for Mars. Maple had two singles, Liv Waldrop two RBI.

Gourley had a triple, single and two runs scored for Knoch. Hughes had a double and single.

Knoch 101 020 3 — 7 8 1

Mars 302 000 0 — 5 6 5

W: Amanda Fischer 4IP (7K, 1BB). L: Emilee Waldrop 7IP (3K, 5BB).

Knoch (2-0): Amanda Fischer 1B RBI, Monica Gourley 3B 1B 2-R, Bailey Rickenbrode 2B, Erin Luffy 3-RBI 2-R, Olivia Vissari 1B, Quinn Hughes 2B 1B RBI, Marissa Melius 1B RBI

Mars (1-2): Emilee Waldrop 1B RBI, Danielle Bednar 1B, Alaina Taylor 2-1B 2-R, Liv Waldrop 2-RBI, Juklia Maple 2-1B RBI,

Tuesday: Ambridge at Knoch, Mars at Woodland Hills