Seneca Valley's Elayna Nagy (4) connects with a pitch during the Raiders' 3-0 WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinal loss to Latrobe Wednesday at Gateway. The Raiders were limited to three hits in the loss.

MONROEVILLE — Seneca Valley managed a few hits against Meredith Carr.

Scoring against her proved to be a different story.

Latrobe's senior pitcher ended SV's season with a 3-0 decision in Wednesday's WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinal softball playoff at Gateway High School.

“She fooled us a few times with her change-up,” said Raider coach George Trew, “but we just didn't hit the ball. We came into this game batting .379 as a team and we had three hits today.”

The biggest threats the Raiders posed offensively came in the final two innings.

Morgan Aloi tallied Seneca Valley's third hit of the game, a double to begin the sixth frame.

Maddy Magill grounded out, moving Aloi to third base. That brought Elayna Nagy to the plate. The senior fouled off seven pitches, but was fooled on a called third strike in the 12th pitch of the at-bat.

“That was big,” said Latrobe coach Rick Kozusko. “When you get to the playoffs, you're going to run into teams that battle and you have to be ready to battle back. That strikeout was a huge part of this game.”

Carr closed the inning with a strikeout of Karli Hacker, stranding Aloi at third base.

The Raiders (15-6) brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh after Carr issued her only two walks of the game — a leadoff free pass to Maddie Schultz and one with two outs to Morgan Prouty. Julia Ehrman, however, lined out to end the game.

Carr, a four-year starter, finished with five strikeouts and the two walks.

“Her change-up was just killer today,” Kozusko said of Carr. “Her location was good and she kept their hitters off-balance the whole game.

“I have a lot of respect for Seneca Valley. They always seem to have a solid program.”

Seneca Valley pitcher Claire Zimmerman kept the Raiders in the game. In the top of the third inning, she allowed a run-scoring double to Karley Kovatch and a single from Carr that scored another run.

The Wildcats (12-7) plated another run in the fourth thanks to Makayla Munchinski's double, but Zimmerman finished the game with three scoreless innings. She was helped by several defensive plays, including two diving efforts from Magill at second base and one from Schultz at third base.

“Claire gave up only three runs,” said Trew, “but when you don't score, you don't win.”

Carr held the Raiders without a hit through the first three innings. Hacker doubled in the fourth and Morgan Prouty did so in the fifth, but Carr stranded the baserunner in both cases.

The Raiders claimed their first outright section crown since 1999 this season.

“You win our section and it's a great year,” said Trew. “I just wish we could have played up to our potential today and I don't think we did that.”

Latrobe 002 100 0 — 3 10 0

Seneca Valley 000 000 0 — 0 3 2

W: Meredith Carr 7 IP (5K, 2BB). L: Claire Zimmerman 7 IP (1K, 1BB).

Latrobe (12-7): Sarah Blair 1B R, Makayla Munchinski 1B 2B RBI, Karley Kovatch 2B R RBI, Meredith Carr 1B 2B RBI, Morgan Schweizer 1B, Rebecca Tatone 1B, Regan McCracken 1B R, Ashley Noel 1B

Seneca Valley (15-6): Morgan Aloi 2B, Karli Hacker 2B, Morgan Prouty 2B