ADAMS TWP — Four runs trumped four outs.

That's the way a bizarre seventh inning played out Wednesday in Mars' come-from-behind 9-8 home softball victory over Freeport.

The game was deadlocked at five through six innings. The Yellowjackets took a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh when Autumn Powell's two-out single to right scored Abby DeJidas from second base.

Jenna Selker then struck out in what should have ended the inning.

But the umpires — and the Mars bench — lost track of the number of outs. Freeport's scorekeeper knew — even yelled 'there's three outs' — but play continued.

Sydney Selker scored on a wild pitch and another run crossed the plate on an infield error before Mars pitcher Kali Harris recorded her, er, fourth strikeout of the inning.

“I didn't know how many outs there were,” Freeport coach Sam Ross said. “I wasn't concentrating on that.”

“Really? They got an extra out?,” Mars coach Michele Goodworth said. “I had no idea. We use Game Changer and didn't notice anything there.”

It didn't matter.

The Planets (1-2) put up a four-spot in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Julia Maple began the frame with a single to left. Olivia Waldrop's double to center drove her in. Waldrop scored on Taylor Schmitt's single to center and Mars trailed by a run.

Madison Buss was hit by a pitch, putting the winning run on base. Harris hit a ground ball to shortstop, Schmitt running into shortstop Aimee Heasley as the latter was fielding the ball.

Schmitt was called out for runner's interference, leaving runners at first and second. Consecutive wild pitches tied the game and put the winning run on third.

Junior shortstop Danielle Bednar — whose older brother David makes his Pittsburgh Pirates' home debut at PNC Park Thursday — singled sharply to center to end the game.

“I had to come through for my team,” Bednar said. “Just before that hit, my coach (Goodworth) called me over and said 'this is your time, make this your day.' I was confident I could do it.”

The victory was the Planets' first of the season. It was also the 180th win at Mars for the coaching tandem of Goodworth and assistant Mike DelDuca.

“We're inching toward 200,” Goodworth said, smiling. “This was an exciting one. We haven't hit the ball this well in a while.”

Mars tallied 11 hits Wednesday after scoring four total runs in its first two games. The Planets begin section play Thursday at North Hills.

Winning pitcher Harris had a double, single and scored three runs. She struck out 10.

“Kali is left-handed, so she is adept at fielding bunts and getting the out at first,” Goodworth said. “She did a lot of that today.”

Bednar had two singles and two RBI for the Planets. Emilee Waldrop had two singles. Maple came off the bench to produce two singles and an RBI.

Selker, a freshman, led Freeport (1-2), which also tallied 11 hits, with a home run, single and three runs scored. Maya Borghol had a pair of singles, as did Natalie King.

“We didn't really have a preseason, not starting until March 8, and we didn't play last year, so games like this are gonna happen,” Ross said. “We're a young team. The fundamentals aren't totally down yet.

“We're going to learn as we go this season. We'll get better.”

Freeport 102 011 3 — 8 11 1

Mars 003 101 4 — 9 11 3

W: Kali Harris 7IP (10K, 2BB). L: Sydney Selker 4.1IP (6K, 4BB).

Freeport (1-2): Maya Borghol 2-1B RBI, Abby DeJidas 1B, Sydney Selker HR 1B RBI 3-R, Natalie King 2-1B RBI, Emily Schmidt 2B RBI, Autumn Powell 1B RBI, Jenna Selker 1B, Aimee Heasley 1B

Mars (1-2): Kali Harris 2B 1B RBI 3-R, Danielle Bednar 2-1B 2-RBI, Emilee Waldrop 2-1B RBI, Alaina Taylor 1B, Julia Maple 2-1B RBI, Olivia Waldrop 2B RBI, Taylor Schmitt 1B RBI, Madison Buss 2-R

Thursday: Mars at North Hills

Friday: Freeport at Highlands