A win was within the Knoch baseball team's grasp, but the Knights could only watch as Hampton got the clutch hit.

Talbots outfielder Eric Donatelli singled home Ryan Gally with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, which proved to be the winning run in their 4-3 Section 1-AAA victory Friday at Pullman Park.

"There are so few section games, regardless of how you lose one, it's always tough," said Knoch coach Curt Schnur.

Gally had reached base on a two-out error, Knoch's fifth of the game.

Gally moved to third base on Phil Powell's base hit, which brought Donatelli to the plate to face Knights reliever Nathan Junk.

"It's a game of momentum," said Hampton coach Matt Torrence. "When you get it, you have to keep it going. We grabbed it when we didn't allow them to score in the seventh."

Hampton reliever and winning pitcher Frank Poerio set the Knights down in order in the bottom of the eighth.

But it was in the Knights' half of the seventh inning when the team had a win in its sights.

With the game tied at 3, Andrew Wirtz led off by reaching on a fielding error and stealing second base.

Dale Gallo was walked intentionally before, with two outs, both runners advanced on a wild pitch.

John DeWalt was given an intentional free pass to load the bases before Zane Voltz lined out to send the game into extra innings.

Knoch ended the day with four hits and 10 runners left on base.

"We just didn't get enough hits," said Schnur. "We had the meat of our order up there in the seventh — you have to find a way to score that run and end the game."

Knoch's loss spoiled the pitching performance of senior Cullen Hinderliter, who struck out 11 while walking one.

The right-hander gave up three runs, one earned, with all of them coming in the first two innings. He surrendered four hits, including just one in his final five innings.

The Knights' defense committed four errors behind Hinderliter, who was forced to take a no-decision when Junk relieved him at the start of the eighth inning.

"We just had too many mistakes in the field today," said Schnur. "Cullen was overpowering their guys. He pitched well enough to win."

Torrence also was impressed with Hinderliter's outing.

"We got to him early, but later in the game, he was mixing his pitches well and he had our guys guessing," he said.

Poerio picked up the win in relief of Talbots starter John Koch.

Poerio struck out four, had two intentional walks and didn't surrender any runs or hits in three innings.

"He came in and pounded the strike zone, and that's what we needed," said Torrence. "His curveball was decent, but he was doing great with his fastball."

Hampton (2-3, 2-0) had built a 3-0 lead after batting in the top of the second inning.

Knoch (3-3, 0-1) answered in the bottom half of the frame when Junk's double scored DeWalt to cut the Knights' deficit to 3-1.

In the third, Hinderliter singled home Wirtz and Gallo came home on an error to tie the game.

Hampton 210 000 01 — 4 7 4Knoch 012 000 00 — 3 4 5W: Frank Poerio 3IP (4 K, 2 BB).

L: Nathan Junk 1IP (0 K, 0 BB).

Hampton (2-3, 2-0): Brett Williams 1B 2B R, Matt Coholich 1B R, Phil Powell 1B, Eric Donatelli 1B R RBI, Craig Nugent 2-1B, Ryan Gally R

Knoch (3-3, 0-1): Andrew Wirtz R, Dale Gallo 2B R, Cullen Hinderliter 1B RBI, John DeWalt R, Nathan Junk 1B 2B RBI

Saturday: Knoch at Fox Chapel