JACKSON TWP — With Seneca Valley’s first four games of the season being non-section contests, coach Eric Semega is assessing just what his pitching staff has to offer.

He liked what he saw on Monday.

Four Raider hurlers — Corey Laskey, Tyler Smith, Brett Steinle and Jackson Nickel — combined to limit Fox Chapel to just four hits in SV’s 3-2 baseball victory on a cold afternoon at Raider Field.

“We’ve now had two good (pitching) outings in a row,” said Semega, who watched his team fall 2-1 to Mt. Lebanon last Thursday. “We worked behind a bit in the count today. The five walks, we have to cut down on those, but all four of our guys battled. All of them could start at some point this season.”

Nickel was the last Raider to take the mound, entering the game in the top of the sixth inning with a 3-2 lead. He worked out of two jams to earn a save.

In the sixth frame, he got Josh Kieffer to line out and Patrick Monteverde to fly out to strand Matt Shaw at third base as the potential tying run.

Then in the top of the seventh inning, the Foxes (2-1) had runners on first and second with just one out. Nickel struck out Ben Rosen looking before right-fielder Lane Palmer made a diving catch on a ball that appeared headed for the gap off the bat of Josh Anderson to end the game.

The Raiders (2-1) scored all of their runs over the first three innings.

Shane Hepner laced a two-run double in the bottom of the first, scoring Andrew Funovits and Corbin Kessler.

Kessler doubled in Anthony Cinicola in the third frame to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead against Monteverde, Fox Chapel’s starter and eventual losing pitcher. Cinicola had reached base on a fielding error and his run turned out to be the game-winner.

Nick McRandal relieved Monteverde after three innings and the latter pitched four scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one.

“I thought both of our pitchers threw well,” said Fox Chapel coach Michael Frank. “We didn’t play that well defensively. When you give extra outs to a good team, they are going to take advantage of it.”

Laskey (two innings) and Smith (one) blanked the Foxes over the first three innings. Steinle pitched a scoreless fourth, then allowed two runs in the top of the fifth on a two-out, two-run single from Rosen, but induced Anderson to ground out to avoid further damage.

The Raiders’ No. 3 and 4 spots in the batting order are solidified with catcher Mike Collins and third baseman Kessler, respectively. The duo combined to go 4-for-5 Monday. Kessler singled twice and doubled with one run scored and another batted in.

“They are our two best hitters,” said Semega. “Corbin is picking up right where he left off last year.

“We are still looking for two or three pieces to the lineup. There are opportunities for guys to step up and fill them.”

Fox Chapel 000 020 0 — 2 4 2

Seneca Valley 201 000 x — 3 7 1

W: Tyler Smith 1 IP (0K, 1BB). L: Patrick Monteverde 3 IP (2K, 1BB). S: Jackson Nickel 2 IP (1K, 2BB).

Fox Chapel (2-1): Patrick Monteverde 1B, Brian Koglin 1B R, Nick McRandal 1B, Jake Mucci R, Ben Rosen 1B 2RBI

Seneca Valley (2-1): Anthony Cinicola R, Mike Collins 2B, Corbin Kessler 2-1B 2B R RBI, Shane Hepner 2B 2RBI, Brett Steinmiller 2-1B, Andrew Funovitz R

Wednesday: Seneca Valley at Chartiers Valley