MILTON — Milton coach Bill Keefer thought the bottom of his order didn't play with the confidence it should have.

"The bottom of the order, for the most part, hasn't been trusting themselves," Keefer said. "They've been lacking confidence, but over the weekend in the (Williamsport Tournament) and at Danville on Tuesday, they started swinging the bats."

For his No. 7 hitter, Amanda Arnold, it was a matter of adjusting to a new role. Arnold moved to designated player from first base three weeks ago.

"It was an adjustment at first, because I love playing the field," Arnold said. "At the beginning when I switched, I was little down myself because I like to play in the field and hit. I made the adjustment, and as long as I'm hitting the way I'm capable and helping the team win, I'm happy."

Arnold had two hits and scored two runs, while Emily Snyder — pinch hitting in the No. 9 hole — knocked home the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth as Milton rallied for 4-3 win over Mifflinburg in Heartland Athletic Conference-Division II action.

 "If the bottom of the order hits, this team is going to score some runs," Keefer said.

The win ties both teams atop the HAC-II standings with one loss. Mifflinburg (13-2 overall, 7-1 HAC-II) has league games remaining with Montoursville (Monday) and Danville (Tuesday). Milton (11-1, 7-1) plays Lewisburg on Tuesday and Danville on May 15. The victory also gave Milton the Williamsport Tournament crown after the title game between the teams was postponed Saturday.

Mifflinburg jumped on Milton early, taking a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats got a run in the first after a Delaney Good triple. She scored on Emily Stauffer's fly ball that was dropped in left field. Milton prevented further damage with a strike'em out, throw'em double play when Stauffer was nailed at third. Then, in the top of the third, Libby Whittaker hit a two-out, two-run homer after Stauffer beat out a bunt single.

"I felt all right if Mifflinburg stayed at three runs," Keefer said.

"We knew we still had a good chance of coming back," Arnold said. "When they scored early, there was still a lot of game left. You never know what can happen."

Arnold started the third inning with a single and hustled to second after a momentary bobble in the outfield. Taylor Wolfe then singled to put runners on the corners. After a groundout back to the pitcher that kept Arnold at third, Kacee Reitz cut the Mifflinburg lead to 3-2 with a two-out, two-strike, two-run single.

The Black Panthers then took the lead for good in their next at-bat — after Mifflinburg got the first two outs of the fourth with just two pitches.

"Mental mistakes have hurt us and it came back to haunt us against (Milton). We had a 3-0 lead and all the confidence in the world. When you make mental mistakes and let teams back in it, especially a team like that," Mifflinburg coach Steve Ross said pointing to the Milton dugout, "you see what happens."

Chloe Perrin worked a walk with two outs in the inning. Arnold beat out an infield single as Perrin took third; Arnold took second on the throw to get Perrin. A wild pitch tied the game before Snyder stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter.

"I wouldn't say I was nervous. I was just looking for a hit and a way to help my team," she said.

Snyder's single plated Arnold to give Milton a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

After the first three innings, Mifflinburg had just one runner reach second base against Milton pitcher Kylie Brouse. Brouse finished with six strikeouts and no walks.

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MILTON 4, MIFFLINBURG 3

Mifflinburg`102`000`0 — 3-7-2

Milton`002`200`x — 2-7-1

Vanessa Martin and Vanessa Boop. Kylie Brouse and Leighton Chappell.

WP: Brouse; LP: Martin.

Mifflinburg: Delaney Good, 2-for-4, triple; Libby Whittaker, homer (3rd, one on), 2 RBIs; Martin, 2-for-3.

Milton: Tiani Mowrer, 2-for-3; Kacee Reitz, 2 RBIs; Amanda Arnold, 2-for-3, 2 runs.