SCRANTON — Abington Heights used three big innings to defeat West Scranton, 17-7, in a Lackawanna League Division 1 softball game May 15.

The Lady Comets finished with 15 hits and scored four runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

Abington Heights took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Nina Kozar drove in Alison Kane, who singled and stole second base, with a bloop double, and Catherine Anne Kupinski followed with an RBI single up the middle.

“We came into the game with a positive mindset and knew we were going to get hits,” Kupinski said.

West Scranton answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Emily Rose reached on a bunt single and scored on a wild pitch.

Kane, who finished with three hits, came through with an RBI single to give Abington Heights a 3-1 lead in the top of the second.

The Lady Comets scored two more runs in the top of the third, courtesy of an RBI single from Lauren Olevnik and RBI double from Kaylee DeMatteo.

West Scranton pushed across a run in the bottom of the inning when Caitlyn Woyshnar singled and scored on a Tatum Repshis groundout.

Abington Heights struck for four runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Kane led off with a single, Cassidy Bartkowski followed with a double and Kozar drove them in with a liner up the middle. The Lady Comets added another run on a West Scranton error and Naudia Solan, who walked, came around to score during a rundown.

“I saw the people on (base) and I was thinking I need to get them in,” Kozar said. “Once one person hits, everyone starting hitting and it’s such a great feeling.”

West Scranton’s Tyler Profka launched a solo home run over the high wall in left field in the bottom of the fourth.

Kozar, Kupinski and DeMatteo each drove in a run during the top of the fifth and the Lady Comets added another on a West Scranton error.

“I don’t think we have a weak spot in our lineup, one through nine,” Abington Heights head coach John Kelly said. “If you make a mistake to any one of them, they’re all capable of hurting you.”

The Lady Invaders scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to avoid the 10-run rule when Julianna Biedler drove in Repshis, who doubled.

West broke through for three runs in the bottom of the six to cut Abington Heights’ advantage to six runs.

Maeve Cast singled to lead off the inning and Profka was hit by a pitch. Rose drove both in with a single and Kamden Miller followed with an RBI single, scoring Shelby Reese, who walked.

“We seem to (always) have one inning where we kind of lose our mental focus,” Kelly said.

Abington Heights put the game out of reach by plating four more runs in the seventh when Alison Fiorillo delivered a three-run triple and Mara Hamm added an RBI single.

Abington Heights’ Mara Hamm winds up to throw a pitch during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 win over West Scranton in a Lackawanna League Division 1 softball game May 15.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Hamm.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Mara Hamm winds up to throw a pitch during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 win over West Scranton in a Lackawanna League Division 1 softball game May 15. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Abington Heights center fielder Alison Kane had three hits and an RBI during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 win over West Scranton.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Kane.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights center fielder Alison Kane had three hits and an RBI during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 win over West Scranton. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Abington Heights’ Catherine Anne Kupinski had two hits and two RBIs during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 victory over West Scranton.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Kupinski.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Catherine Anne Kupinski had two hits and two RBIs during the Lady Comets’ 17-7 victory over West Scranton. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Lady Comets starting pitcher Meghan McGinley struck out four batters during Abington Heights’ 17-7 win over West Scranton.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-McGinley.jpg.optimal.jpgLady Comets starting pitcher Meghan McGinley struck out four batters during Abington Heights’ 17-7 win over West Scranton. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.