CHIPPEWA TWP — Tuesday's WPIAL Class AAA baseball playoff game between Knoch and Trinity was all about give and take.

The Knights gave, the Hillers took.

Knoch committed seven errors, including four in a pivotal third inning that allowed Trinity to score five times, in a 7-2 loss at Chippewa Township Park.

All of Trinity's runs were unearned.

"In games like this, you take anything you can get," said Hillers coach Levi Bristor. "We capitalized on a few mistakes."

The Knights enjoyed an early 1-0 lead after Sam Stone opened the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored a single by Andrew Wirtz.

The score stood until the Hillers (17-3) broke through in the third inning.

Alex Frey opened with a single and Sean McKnight reached safely when his bunt was fielded by Knights pitcher Cullen Hinterliter, who couldn't retire Frey at second base.

An error on a pickoff throw advanced both runners, then, one out later, Dustin Norris' grounder was fielded by Knoch third baseman Zane Voltz, whose fielder's choice at home shorthopped catcher Jeff Kolish to score one run.

After a double steal and a walk to Nate Cataldo loaded the bases, shortstop John DeWalt mishandled Evan Bukowski's grounder before his throw to third base went into the Knights' dugout.

That allowed Bukowski to go all the way to third base, which cleared the bases and gave Trinity a 4-1 advantage.

Craig Cnagey drove home Bukowski with a run-scoring single before Hinterliter got Mike Digon to ground into a double play to end the rally.

"They gave us an out with the bunt (by McKnight) and we didn't execute," said Knoch coach Curt Schnur. "Things just snowballed from there."

In the fourth, Trinity made it 6-1, using a walk, single, error and a balk to plate another run.

In the meantime, Knoch (7-12) had at least one hit over the first six innings, but stranded at least one runner in all six.

Knoch did answer with a run in the fourth when Jeff Kolish walked and, one out later, Marcus Cashell tripled over the head of Hillers center fielder Frey. Bukowski struck out DeWalt and induced Stone to fly out to right field.

Knoch had one more chance to climb back when Dale Gallo doubled with one out and Hinterliter walked.

After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Trinity first baseman Ross Songer made a leaping grab of Robert Zanella's liner, then fired the ball to second base to double up courtesy runner Dan Carter.

Trinity added an insurance run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Norris.

Hinterliter limited the Hillers to five hits and three walks while fanning five batters. Bukowski struck out eight batters and walked two over six innings.

"Cullen pitched a good enough game," said Schnur. "Offensively, we had a few runners and runners in scoring position with less than two outs, but we were not able to make a big play."

Trinity 005 100 1 — 7 5 1Knoch 100 100 0 — 2 7 7W: Evan Bukowski (6 IP) 8 K, 2 BB.

L: Cullen Hinterliter (7 IP) 5 K, 3 BB.

Trinity (17-3): Dustin Norris 1B, RBI; Evan Bukowski 1B, RBI; Craig Cnagey 1B, RBI; Alex Frey 1B; Sean McKnight 1B

Knoch (7-12): Sam Stone 2B; Andrew Wirtz 1B, RBI; Dale Gallo 2B; Cullen Hinterliter 1B; Nathan Junk 1B; Marcus Cashell 1NB, 3B, RBI