What a difference three weeks makes.
When Pine Grove hosted Pottsville on April 1, the Crimson Tide rolled to a six-inning, 10-run-rule victory.
When the teams met Tuesday at the 16th Street Complex, this Schuylkill League Division I matchup went much differently.
And it isn't over yet.
The teams played to a 3-3 tie before lightning and heavy rain halted play in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pottsville's Caitlyn Herndon had just led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single to left field when play was suspended.
The teams will return to 16th Street at 4:30 this afternoon to complete the contest.
"If we can execute ... we'll see what happens,'' Pottsville coach Chuck Rinaldo said.
The division-leading Tide (6-4, 5-0 D-I) had all kinds of chances to make this game look a lot like the first meeting.
They scored a run in the first inning when Courtney Dusel got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. They stranded three runners.
In the second, Pottsville loaded the bases with one out, but its Nos. 3 and 4 hitters failed to drive in any runs.
"We're just not getting it done,'' Rinaldo said. "We're doing a lot of unfundamental softball things, making poor decisions.
"There were some positives,'' he added. "We went to the short game a little bit. I was pleased with that.''
So far, the Tide have left nine on base - seven in scoring position.
"That's been a problem all season,'' Rinaldo added.
Meanwhile, Pine Grove (4-6, 2-3) is a young team trying to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Cardinals started one senior, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. The Tide started six seniors and four juniors.
The Cards played with urgency, knowing time is running out to win games and qualify for districts. They've been working at practice and played Tuesday's game with high enthusiasm and at a high decibel level.
"We want to play better ball at the end and give ourselves a chance to make districts,'' first-year Pine Grove coach Ryan Leffler said.
Through much of the game, it looked like Pottsville would do just enough to escape with a victory.
In the third inning, Julie Bulino clubbed an RBI double to deep right field to double the Tide's lead to 2-0.
The teams traded runs in the fourth.
Pine Grove got on the board when Brittanie Whitman singled home Jennifer Kaufman, who got the inning started with a bunt single.
Pottsville took advantage of Jolyn Rodrian's bunt single and two errors to answer and extend its lead to 3-1.
In the sixth, that lead evaporated.
Jeena Sidleck led off with a double and Kaufman reached safely when Pottsville couldn't field her sacrifice bunt. Kaufman promptly stole second.
The Tide got a popout for the first out and a groundout for the second. On that ground ball, Pottsville threw home after tagging the bag, but the throw veered way off line, allowing both Sidleck and Kaufman to score and tie the game.
"The last couple weeks have been tough on them,'' Leffler said. "They haven't been playing up to their potential. I told them to go out, relax, have fun and play the game you know how to play.
"We did a great practice (Monday) to prep for Pottsville. ... They did have a lot of energy, and it showed on the field.''