JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch’s softball team thought it had a safety net when it came to making the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, but it’s a good thing the Knights didn’t plan on using it.

Knoch overcame a 4-0 deficit — scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning — and earned a wild 7-6 victory over rival Mars at Laura Doerr Park Monday afternoon.

The win earned the Knights (8-8, 5-5) a postseason berth. Had they lost, they would have seen their season end since Highlands upset Hampton 7-1.

Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger was satisfied his players extended their season with a hard-fought victory.

“We wanted to control our own destiny,” he said. “As a coach, I did not want to back into the playoffs with a losing record. If we did that, we’d go (to the playoffs) and compete, but this win meant the world to us.”

Despite the defeat, Mars (9-5, 8-2) shares the section crown with Hampton.

“There were a lot of momentum shifts that went Knoch’s way today and that was the difference in the game,” said Mars coach Michele Goodworth.

Knoch took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning when Abigail Black singled home Hayle Fox, putting the Knights up 7-6.

But the top of the seventh inning brought with it some tense moments for Knappenberger and his players.

With one out, Mars’ Marina Manuppelli and Jordyn Douglas had back-to-back singles.

Douglas’ hit pushed Manuppelli to third base, which drew a throw from the outfield. Douglas tried to sneak into second base on the back end of the play, but was thrown out.

The Planets still had the tying run at third base, but Knoch first baseman Chandler Krelow caught Lindy Lee’s blistered line drive for the final out.

“Mars finally started to get to Celia (Knappenberger, relief pitcher),” Tim Knappenberger said. “We were fortunate with that last line drive, but we were due for a break. We haven’t gotten many this year.”

Five one-run section losses had put the Knights in danger of missing the playoffs.

“It was nice to finally win one,” said Tim Knappenberger.

Things did not look good for Knoch early on as the Planets plated a pair of runs in each of the first two innings off of Knights’ starter Shelby Bruggeman. Manuppelli, Mallory Eperesi and Isabella Berkopec all had run-scoring singles in that sequence.

“We knew we could come back,” said Fox, who ended the game with three hits. “We were down to Mars 5-0 (April 24) and came back before losing 7-6. Our lineup can put up some numbers and I had faith in the girls.”

The Knights scored four of their five third-inning runs with two outs against Mars’ Niki Schlegel. The barrage featured RBI-singles from Bruggeman, Fox and Black.

The Planets retook the lead with two runs in the fourth frame and Celia Knappenberger was brought in to minimize the damage, which she did with a strikeout of Manuppelli that ended the inning, stranding two.

Knappenberger allowed just one baserunner — Maggie Olshenske’s double in the sixth — over the next two innings. She ended up earning the win with six strikeouts.

“She gives us another dimension with her curveball,” Tim Knappenberger said. “It kept them off-balanced.”

The Knights scored the tying run in the bottom of the fourth when Avery Keller’s double plated Thrower. Black’s game-winning RBI followed the next inning.

Olshenske tallied four hits in the game for the Planets.

While disappointed in Monday’s result, Goodworth is confident her team can bounce back.

“We can definitely put this one behind us,” she said.

Mars 220 200 0 — 6 15 2

Knoch 005 110 x — 7 13 3

W: Celia Knappenberger 2.1 IP (6K, 0BB). L: Niki Schlegel 6 IP (4K, 0BB).

Mars (9-5, 8-2): Suzanne Papik 1B R, Mallory Eperesi 2-1B 2R RBI, Maggie Olshenske 3-1B 2B R RBI, Isabella Berkopec 1B R RBI, Niki Schlegel 2-1B RBI, Marina Manuppelli 2-1B RBI, Jordyn Douglas 2-1B, Katie Hoover 1B R

Knoch (8-8, 5-5): Sydney Natili 1B, Celia Knappenberger 1B R, Abbie Thrower 1B 2R, Avery Keller 1B 2B R RBI, Chandler Krelow 1B RBI, Shelby Bruggeman 1B R RBI, Hayle Fox 2-1B 2B 2R RBI, Abigail Black 2-1B 2RBI, Chalee Durand 1B

Wednesday: Fox Chapel at Mars