JEFFERSON TWP — Down on the scoreboard? Maybe.

Down and out? Never.

“These girls don't know how to die,” Knoch softball coach Gary Coe said.

The Knights proved that again Tuesday at Laura Doerr Park, scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to shock Ambridge, 10-9, in a mutual Section 3-4A opener.

Knoch (3-0, 1-0) had come from behind to win its first two games of the season as well, but those rallies weren't quite like this.

Ambridge (2-1, 0-1) took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first as Kim Kuzma's two-run homer to center was followed by Haylee Herman's solo shot well over the center-field fence. Kuzma and Herman — the Bridgers' No. 4 and 5 hitters in the batting order — combined for seven hits in eight at-bats, five RBI and five runs scored.

“That first inning, those two bombs, didn't bother our girls at all,” Coe said, smiling. “They never seem to get excited when they're behind.

“It does make it hard on the coaches, though.”

Knoch trailed 9-4 when it came to bat in the final inning.

Erin Luffy began the frame with a line-drive double to left. Liv Visarri blooped a single to left and Quinn Hughes drilled a run-scoring double to right, Visarri also scoring on a throwing error.

Brynnae Coe reached on an infield single and Marissa Melius walked to put the tying runs on base. Sophie Brandon grounded into a force play at the plate.

Amanda Fischer hit a sacrifice fly to right and Monica Gourley's two-out bloop single to left plated Melius and pulled Knoch within a run.

Sophomore Bailey Rickenbrode then hit a two-run double to deep center to complete the comeback.

“I'm a power hitter, so I'm always trying to hit the ball hard,” Rickenbrode said. “That was exciting, getting a chance to bat in a situation like that.

“We always know we have a chance to come back in any game.”

The teams combined for 31 hits against two pitchers who walked only three batters combined all day.

“When you have the lead, you have to get outs,” Ambridge coach Jim Huwar said. “We didn't make enough plays defensively and we had chances to score more runs.

“They hit the ball well and so did we.”

Lexi Peters had three singles and walked as Ambridge's leadoff hitter. Zoe Staley and Syd Hopkins combined for four singles and three RBI from the bottom third of the order.

“We've come from behind in every game so far,” Coe said. “It's going to be an exciting year, a fun year.”

Rickenbrode had two doubles and four RBI for the Knights. She had a run-scoring double in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the fifth before delivering the game-winning hit.

Gourley and Coe had three singles each for Knoch.

Tuesday's win may wind up being a big one for Knoch in terms of the section race.

“I feel like these are two of the stronger teams in the section and this feels like a big win,” Coe said. “But there is a long way to go.”

2 outs when winning run scored

Ambridge 402 012 0 — 9 16 2

Knoch 100 111 6 — 10 15 2

W: Amanda Fischer 7IP (5K, 1BB). L: Ashley DeWeese 6.2IP (4K, 2BB).

Ambridge (2-1, 0-1): Lexi Peters 3-1B, Alex Bupp 2-1B 2-R RBI, Kim Kuzma HR 2-1B 3-RBI 2-R, Haylee Herman HR 2B 2-1B 3-R 2-RBI, Zoe Staley 2-1B 2-RBI, Syd Hopkins 2-1B RBI

Knoch (3-0, 1-0): Amanda Fischer 1B 2-RBI, Monica Gourley 3-1B 2-R RBI, Bailey Rickenbrode 2-2B 4-RBI, Erin Luffy 2B, Liv Visarri 2-1B 2-R, Quinn Hughes 2B 1B RBI, Brynnae Coe 3-1B 2-R RBI, Sophie Brandon 1B

Thursday: Knoch at Blackhawk