WASHINGTON, Pa — Peters Township coach Joe Maize envisioned a bigger lead for his team during Thursday's PIAAClass AAAA quarterfinal game against Seneca Valley.

The Raiders, however, saw a bigger picture: keep it close until the bats started working.

The Raiders trailed 2-1 with two outs in the fifth inning before mounting a four-run rally — highlighted by a two-run single by Jim Burry and a two-run double by Cory Mazzoni — that propelled the squad to a 5-2 victory at ConsolEnergy Field.

With the win, the Raiders (20-2) face State College Monday in a semifinal contest at a site and time to be determined.

Peters Township (21-5) held a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but it had stranded five runners in scoring position.

"We faced a quality kid (SV starting pitcher Mazzoni), but our kids were confident," said Maize. "We just hit the ball right at people.

"We should have had a 4-1 lead, but when you let a quality team and a well-coached team hang around, they'll come back," he added.

The Indians, who captured the WPIAL championship last week, had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a one-out RBI single by Aaron Maize to score Matt Bianco.

The Raiders opened the third inning with a Phil Double infield single, but he was picked off by Indians starter Nick Merich. Next up, Ken Walrond drew a walk, but he was picked off as well to end the inning.

It looked as though Peters Township was going to break through in the fourth inning after Bianco had a double with one out and A.J. Sherer walked with two outs.

A wild pitch sent both runners into scoring position, but Mike DeVilla's hard grounder to a diving Tyler Bream at third base kicked off his glove and right to shortstop Walrond, who made the throw to first to end the inning.

That seemed to spur the Raiders, who finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning.

Burry opened with an infield single and, one out later, moved to third base when Merich's pickoff attempt went down the first-base line.

Mazzoni hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Burry.

"I felt like if we kept their hitters in check and kept them from the big inning, we'd put some runs on the board," said Mazzoni.

"We knew that the one run wasn't going to beat us," he added.

The Indians re-took the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Pat Gallagher opened with a single, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jim Rider.

Undeterred, the Raiders took control of the game in their next at-bat, chasing Merich out of the game as well.

With two outs, Shaine Patsilevas walked, then Walrond smacked a double to put runners at second and third.

Burry fell behind in the count 0-2, but worked it full before his two-run single gave the Raiders the lead for good.

"He almost hit it too hard," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "I thought at first the center fielder was going to catch it. That's a big swing."

Gabe Grinder singled and moved to second base when the throw from left fielder Bianco went to third base.

Mazzoni then hit a double over the center fielder's head to make it 5-2. The Indians would get only one more baserunner over the final two innings.

Mazzoni finished the complete-game win with seven strikeouts and three walks.

"Cory definitely got stronger as the game went on," said Semega. "Peters Township, they can flat-out hit the ball. I think they're one of the best-hitting teams."

Peters Twp. 010 010 0—2 6 3Seneca Valley 000 140 x—5 6 1Nick Merich, Jordan Jankowski (5, 1 K, 0 BB) and Jankowski and Chris Teodori (5); Cory Mazzoni and Matt Johnson.

W: Mazzoni (7 K, 3 BB).

L: Merich (2 K, 4 BB).

Peters Township (21-5): Pat Gallagher 1B, R; Jim Rider 1B, RBI; Jordan Jankowski 1B; Matt Bianco 1B, 2B, R; Aaron Maize 1B, RBI

Seneca Valley (20-2): Ken Walrond 2B, R; Jim Burry 2-1B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Gabe Grinder 1B, R; Cory Mazzoni 2B, 3 RBI; Phil Double 1B; Shaine Patsilevas R

Monday: PIAAsemifinal-Seneca Valley vs. State College, site and time TBD