NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – When you’ve got the budget for a brand-new turf stadium with overhead lights, why not schedule first pitch for 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday?

But under those very lights, things didn’t fall in Marple’s favor. The defending District 1 5A champions — who claimed last year’s title by defeating the now No. 2-ranked Radnor — are still fighting to stay in contention. However, tonight’s narrow 4-1 loss dealt another blow to their fading playoff hopes.

The game opened as a classic pitcher’s duel, with both teams threatening early but unable to break through over the first four innings. That changed in the top of the fifth, when Harriton finally broke this game open.

With two quick outs to start the inning, it looked like another scoreless frame. But an error allowed Calvin Costello to reach base, and Gaven Bowman followed with a single. A perfectly placed bunt by Eli Bloch brought in the first run. Bryce Siegel then singled, and on the next play, advanced to second on another Marple error, allowing two more runs to score and giving Harriton a 3-0 lead.

Marple responded in the bottom half with an Aiden Doney single that was eventually cashed in on a pop-out, trimming the lead to 3-1. But that was the end of their rally, as Harriton’s pitching shut things down from there.

The Rams added one more insurance run in the sixth to seal a 4-1 victory, powered by an outstanding complete-game performance from starter Sam Bohnenkamp. He struck out 11, allowed just four hits, and one ER.

Harriton (5-9) won’t get much rest — they’ll resume Monday’s rain-delayed game against league-leading Radnor (13-1) tomorrow, picking up with Radnor leading 3-0. Harriton is theoretically still in the race for the final spot in the 5A bracket, but they’ll need to come back and win this one.

Marple (5-10), meanwhile, saw their playoff hopes dim further with just one league game remaining. They’ll host Strath Haven for that last game next Monday at 6:30.