CALIFORNIA, Pa. — This lineup deserves a nickname.

And while calling it Murderers Row might not be original, it certainly applies to the Seneca Valley softball team's offense.

The Raiders tallied 11 runs on 15 hits as they bullied their way to an 11-4 WPIAL Quad A semifinal win over Hempfield, Thursday at California (Pa.) University's Lilly Field.

SV (19-1) will face Greater Latrobe, a 5-0 victor over Peters Township in Thursday's other semifinal, next Thursday in the championship game at the same venue at a time to be determined.

The Raiders' offense in their latest victory was a microcosm of the team's season.

All nine players in the batting order collected at least one hit, with Courtney Grootegoed managing three hits and four other players — Dana Hughes, Jackie Mangola, Nicole Lollo and Kelsey Gray — collecting two hits each.

Eight different players, including courtesy runners Rachele Huffman and Caitlin McGill, scored runs, and five players drove in at least one run, with Hughes leading the way with three RBI.

But Raiders coach George Trew doesn't need to be reminded of his team's potent lineup.

"We hit the ball today and we've been doing it all year," he said. "You can't let up on anybody, one through nine, they'll all hurt you."

It rang true in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Raiders watched a 6-1 lead shrink to 6-4 when Hempfield (17-4) scored three runs an inning and a half earlier.

In the fifth, SV had runners on first and second with two outs and its No. 9 hitter, Ashley Watkins, coming to the plate.

The junior outfielder rose to the occasion by dropping a two-run double down the left-field line to score Huffman and Lindsay Troyer for an 8-4 edge.

The Raiders added three more runs in the sixth to close out the scoring.

The team has scored a combined 49 runs in its last four games, including 20 runs in two playoff contests.

"We've got to be hitting .350 or better as a team," said Trew.

SV took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning.

With the score tied at 1-1, Hughes belted a two-out, three-run home run over the left-center field fence off of Spartans starter T'nia Falbo, who was immediately pulled in favor of senior Jamie Swarm.

Swarm held the Raiders scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but could not prevent SV from tallying five runs in the final two frames to make the game a rout.

Neither Hempfield pitcher was supported well by her defense, as the Spartans committed five errors, including one that would have gotten Falbo out of the second inning before Hughes' home run.

"I knew from the first time we played them that they are a good-hitting team," said Hempfield coach Bob Kalp. "And we commit that error right before the home run."

SV defeated the Spartans, 7-0 in late March.

SV starter Lauren Pennell pitched the first four innings before leaving the game with a sprained ankle.

She still managed the win, striking out two and walking one while being charged with four runs on nine hits.

Grootegoed pitched the final three innings and allowed only two baserunners, hitting Marci Potuzko with a pitch in the fifth and allowing a single to Ashley Pisone in the sixth.

Seneca Valley will be making its first WPIAL championship game appearance since winning the title in 1999.

Hempfield 100 300 0—4 10 5Seneca Valley 150 023 x—11 15 2T'nia Falbo, Jamie Swarm (2, 2 K, 1 BB) and Ashley Pisone; Lauren Pennell, Courtney Grootegoed (5) and Megan McCormick.

W: Pennell (2 K, 1 BB).

L: Falbo (0 K, 1 BB).

SV: Grootegoed (2 K, 0 BB).

Hempfield (17-4): Melissa Lupinacci 1B 2B 2R RBI, Amanda Rupert 1B 2 RBI, Ashley Pisone 2-1B 2B, T'nia Falbo 1B RBI SB, Kelsey Criner 1B, Ashlee Jury 1B, Marci Potuzko 2B R, Sara Silbaugh R

Seneca Valley (19-1): Dana Hughes 2B HR 2R 3 RBI, Liz Dorogy 1B R, Jackie Mangola 2-1B 2R, Courtney Grootegoed 2-1B 2B 2 RBI, Megan McCormick 1B, Nicole Lollo 1B 2B R RBI, Kelsey Gray 2-1B, Lindsay Troyer 1B 2R RBI, Ashley Watkins 2B R 2 RBI, Rachele Huffman R, Caitlin McGill R

Thursday: Seneca Valley vs. Greater Latrobe, WPIAL Quad A Championship, at California (Pa.) University, time TBA