Lance Cotton has gone from firing pucks to slinging curveballs.

The hooks worked for the Knoch right-hander Friday at Kelly Automotive Park.

The junior did not allow a hit in his final four innings of work as Knoch rolled to a 6-2 section baseball victory over winless Indiana.

The Indians got to Cotton for a pair of runs on three hits in the second inning to knot the game at 2. But Gavin Phillips scored on a wild pitch to give Knoch (4-0, 3-0) a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second.

“I got a feel for my off-speed stuff in the third,” Cotton said. “I just pounded my glove, took a deep breath and went after it.”

Considered in the mix as the third pitcher in the Knights' rotation, Cotton had not pitched in nearly two weeks.

He was away at a hockey tournament in Chicago.

“He plays club hockey and his team made nationals,” Knoch coach Sean O'Donnell said. “It kicked in for him in the third inning because that's when he settled in.”

Knoch won the game despite getting only five hits. Andy Pipes had a triple, single, RBI and scored two runs. Dylan Swarmer had a pair of RBI for the Knights.

Ethan Sloane pitched the final inning for Knoch. The game ended when Trajon Jones lined into a double play.

Cotton threw 97 pitches in his six innings.

“I wanted Lance to finish, but that was too many,” O'Donnell said.

Brandon Brocious hit a two-run double for Indiana's only two runs.

“Their pitcher kept us off balance with that curve,” Indiana coach Larry Cadile said. “We were chasing it too much.”

Knoch's hitters worked deep into the count repeatedly. Indiana pitchers threw 86 pitches in the first three innings.

“We've done that almost every game,” O'Donnell said. It's something we stress. We had one pitcher at 93 pitches in the third inning last week.”

Knoch plays at Derry on Saturday.

Indiana 020 000 0 — 2 4 3

Knoch 212 100 x — 6 5 2

W: Lance Cotton 6IP (5K, 4BB). L: Alec Petroff 2.1IP (3K, 4BB).

Indiana (0-4, 0-4): Brandon Brocious 1B 2B 2-RBI, Austin Horner 1B, Dan Millen 1B

Knoch (4-0, 3-0): Alex Altmire 2B, Andy Pipes 3B 1B RBI 2-R, Ben McMillen 1B, Gavon Phillips RBU, Guy DeLeonardis 1B RBI

Saturday: Knoch at Derry