ADAMS TWP — It was the type of situation many high school baseball players dream of — bottom of the seventh, bases loaded, down by one.

The pressure-packed moment didn't bother Sam Swiatek.

“That's what I live for,” said the Mars right fielder.

Swiatek belted the first pitch he saw into the gap in left-center field to score Alex Smith and Tyler Reginelli, lifting the Planets to a 7-6 win over Knoch in a WPIAL Section 5-AAA clash on Thursday afternoon at the Mars Athletic Complex.

“I was just looking for a first-pitch fastball ... and I was ready to jump on it,” said Swiatek. “I just wanted to get a hit ... I wasn't expecting that, but it was a nice surprise. I'm glad I could help the team get the win.”

Knoch rallied from a 4-1 deficit to claim a 6-4 edge with a five-run fifth inning and maintained the advantage until the bottom of the seventh.

Ben Erdahl led off the final frame with a single to left, before Smith blooped a base hit into shallow right. Matt Eperesi followed with a well-struck double into left-center field to trim the gap to 6-5.

David Bednar drew an intentional walk — his fourth free pass of the game — to load the bases, paving the way for Swiatek's heroics.

“Ben Erdahl set the tone with a base hit right away. It kind of snowballed a little bit from there,” said Mars coach Brian Hobaugh. “Sam is a good fastball hitter, he threw him one and he drilled it.”

Gavin Miller endured the loss for Knoch (4-5, 3-2). He pitched a complete game and struck out six.

After the Planets (7-4, 4-1) touched him up for four runs in the first two frames, the right-hander settled down and allowed just one hit over the next four innings.

“It was his game to win or lose,” said Knoch coach George Bradley. “I thought he was throwing effectively enough.

“Those guys have been around the block,” Bradley added. “I told our kids afterward, 'We went nose to nose with this team and that's where we want to be. ... There's no fear in them.'

“We also sensed that in our guys. When we were down 4-1, there was no quit and we said, 'We're coming back.'”

Knoch tallied six straight hits to start the fifth inning. Chase Voltz singled, followed by a Caleb Thorn double. Tyler Smith and Andy Fritz ripped RBI singles, before Hyte Eurich reached on a hard grounder that took a wicked hop and caught the second baseman Smith in the throat.

After a brief delay, Smith — who nearly made the play, but Eurich barely beat the throw — stayed in the game.

Matt Parrish relieved Eperesi, the Mars starting pitcher, to retire the final batter of the fifth and did not allow a run over the next two innings.

“Can't say enough about him, coming in and closing the door,” said Hobaugh of Parrish. “Super job. He helped us keep the game close.”

The left-hander struck out two and did not walk a batter. Eperesi, a righty, hurled the first 4 2-3 innings and struck out six.

Mars took a 1-0 edge in the first inning on an RBI single from Swiatek to score Reginelli, a courtesy runner for Eperesi.

The Knights answered in the top of the second to tie the game. Eurich led off with a double down the right-field line, before Miller brought him home with a two-out single.

Smith, who was 3-for-4 on the day, provided the big hit in a three-run second for the Planets with a two-RBI double to right field.

The win keeps Mars within one game of Hampton for the section lead and a game clear of Knoch for second place.

“That was a huge win to get at our home field to stay right in the race for potentially a section title,” said Hobaugh. “I think that might be the kind of win we needed.”

Although it was a tough defeat, Bradley likes what he saw from his team.

“No complaints,” he said. “I thought Gavin did a great job, our defense played wonderful and we had some clutch hitting when we needed it.”

Three of the Knights' five losses this season have come by one run.

“We've played some tough ones, but that's part of the growing process and that's what I'm starting to see,” said Bradley. “We're not done yet.”

Knoch 010 050 0 — 6 12 1

Mars 130 000 3 — 7 11 2

W: Matt Parrish 2 1-3 IP (2K, 0BB). L: Gavin Miller 6+ IP (6K, 4BB).

Knoch (4-5, 3-2): Chase Voltz 2-1B, R; Caleb Thorn 2B, 1B, R; Tyler Smith 2-1B, R, RBI; Andy Fritz 1B, RBI; Jordan Hickey R; Hyte Eurich 2B, 1B, 2-R; Cole Shinsky 1B, RBI; Taylor Sharer RBI; Gavin Miller 2-1B, RBI

Mars (7-4, 4-1): Ben Erdahl 1B, R; Alex Smith 2B, 2-1B, 2-R, 2-RBI; Matt Eperesi 2B, 2-1B, 2-RBI; Tyler Reginelli 2-R; Sam Swiatek 2B, 1B, 3-RBI; Kevin Giallonardo 1B, R; Connor McGinnis 1B, R

Friday: Mars at North Hills, 4 p.m.

Saturday: Ellwood City vs. Knoch at Pullman Park, noon