ADAMS TWP — The only things cleaner than Taylor Rotz's performance Tuesday were the bases.

The Mars junior won a pitcher's duel against Knoch's Britni Brandstetter as her one-hitter led the Planets to a 3-1 girls softball victory.

Neither team managed a baserunner after the second inning.

“Kudos to both pitchers. They were outstanding,” Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger said.

The win clinched at least a tie for the Section 5-AAA title for the Planets, who will win the crown outright with a victory over Kittanning Thursday or a Kittanning loss to Knoch today.

Rotz provided all the offense she would need when she drilled a line drive over the left-field fence for a two-run homer in the first inning. The blast was her third round-tripper of the year.

“It was a fastball down the middle, a big ole' meatball,” Rotz said. “Those two runs were big because I knew this would be a low-scoring game.

“Knoch always gives you a very competitive game.”

The home run was the only real mistake made by Brandstetter, who tossed a four-hitter in her own right. Knoch got one of those runs back in the top of the second inning.

Rotz had Codi Reed struck out, but was called for an illegal pitch on the 3-2 offering and Reed was awarded a walk. An infield error was followed by No. 8 hitter Mikayla Moretti's solid RBI single to left field.

Rotz retired the remaining 16 hitters in a row.

A bases-loaded walk to Erin Hershman plated Mars' third run. Brandstetter retired the remaining 13 hitters she faced.

“This was a well-played game by both teams and a big win for us because it takes us another step closer to the section title,” Mars coach Michele Goodworth said.

The Planets have won seven of their last eight games.

Knoch entered the game averaging eight runs per game, but has now dropped four straight. The Knights can still reach the WPIAL playoffs with a win at Kittanning today.

The Knights suffered a 2-1 loss to Mars on April 17 at Laura Doerr Park.

“She (Rotz) is the fastest pitcher we face and her changeup is effective against us,” Knappenberger said. “She had our hitters off-balance all day.”

Offensively, Rotz is hitting over .400 and Hershman is hitting around .500.

“It's good to see us back at the top of the section standings again,” Goodworth said. “We had a few years of rebuilding there.”

Rotz is in her first year as the Planets' varsity pitcher.

“Taylor pitches with confidence and her teammates play with confidence behind her,” Goodworth said. “They know she's going to throw strikes.”

If not for the illegal pitch call in the second inning, Rotz may have thrown a no-hitter.

“I re-planted my foot during the delivery and you can't do that,” Rotz allowed. “It was a good call. But it was an easy fix for me.”

Knoch 010 000 0 — 1 1 1Mars 210 000 x — 3 4 1W: Taylor Rotz 7IP (6K, 1BB).

L: Britni Brandstetter 6IP (3K, 1BB).

Knoch (9-5, 4-5): Mikayla Moretti 1B RBI

Mars (10-5, 7-2): Alysa Ciafre 1B, Erin Hershman 1B RBI, Taylor Rotz HR 2-RBI, Keiran Salada 1B

Wednesday: Knoch at Kittanning

Thursday: Kittanning at Mars