Two games into its season, the Upper Perkiomen girls softball team has delivered a pair of come-from-behind victories. A walk-off victory over Quakertown on Tuesday had head coach Dean Sullivan talking about an improved district seeding.

Upper Perk's Olivia Gehringer slides into home safely as  Quakertown catcher Leah Schwalm catches the throw to  the plate in Tuesday's game at Upper Perk.

            Eva McCormick's single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Indians to a 10-9 non-league victory. They scored in six of their seven at-bats to overcome a 4-0 first-inning deficit.

            "This is fun," said Sullivan, whose team lost starters to graduation. "I love being part of games where we come back to win."

            Olivia Gehringer delivered three hits, drove in three runs and scored twice for the Tribe (2-0), which built a 7-6 lead after three innings. McCormick contributed three hits, including two doubles, drove in two runs and scored two.

            The Indians registered single runs in three of their final four at-bats to overcome an early four-run deficit. Emma Davidheiser's double to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning off Quakertown pitcher Ava Zebert forced an 8-8 tie.

            The team squandered additional scoring chances when Davidheiser made the inning's first out at third base on the play. She apparently misread a signal from Sullivan in the third-base coach's box to take an extra base.

            The visiting Panthers took a 9-8 lead off Tribe starting pitcher Jocelyn Sledgen in the top of the sixth inning. Leah Schwalm led off with a double and scored on Ellie Hilton's single to left.

            However, Sledgen worked out of trouble to keep her team close. She induced a double play ground ball and a pop-up to limit the damage.

            Berg worked a walk to open the bottom of the sixth, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice. She scored the tying run on Molnar's hit to left.

            After Berg retired the Panthers in the top of the seventh, working around a two-out walk, the Tribe ended the game in the bottom of the seventh.

            Maddie Deeble opened the inning with a single to center off Quakertown reliever Ava Jones. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before racing home on McCormick's hit to shallow center. Deeble's slide beat the throw of center fielder Cadence Jozefowski.

            Carli Maha finished with two hits and three RBIs for the Panthers, who scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning off Sledgen to go ahead 8-7. Gianna Santangelo delivered two doubles, drove in two runs and scored twice. Schwalm posted three hits, while Kira Jefferson scored twice.

            Four days earlier, the Indians displayed similar determination in a 9-5 victory over Brandywine Heights. Davidheiser and Berg led them to a season-opening win on Friday, March 14.

            Davidheiser, a junior, finished with three hits and an RBI. Berg, a junior, added two hits and scored twice. Gehringer tripled twice and drove in a run for the Tribe, which mounted a seven-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning, including converting six consecutive bunts.

            Leadoff hitter Brooke Sullivan posted two hits, scored once and drove in one run for Upper Perkiomen, which trailed 4-2 after allowing the visiting Bullets two runs in the top of the fifth inning. McCormick added two RBIs.

            Sledgen earned the mound victory. The sophomore permitted four earned runs and worked around six hits and five walks.

            According to Coach Sullivan, McCormick, a junior who lost her spot in the lineup in 2024 due to an offensive slump after playing regularly the season before, is making the most of her opportunity. He described her as the team's only first baseman.

            "If we lose her, we could be in some trouble," Dean Sullivan said.

            With just three returning regulars, qualifying for the Pioneer Athletic Conference will be a challenge, according to the coach. The Indians are competing in the Liberty Division against schools with large enrollments, with Owen J. Roberts the team to beat.