ERIE — Mercyhurst Prep stood between the A-C Valley baseball team and a trip to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals.

More specifically, it was Lakers junior pitcher Matt Tobin who posed the biggest challenge to the Falcons.

The southpaw worked five innings and surrendered one hit, struck out 11 and walked two in his team's 6-0 state playoff victory Monday at Jerry Uht Park.

Three of his strikeouts came when he fanned A-C Valley's Eric Staab, Reed Terwilliger and Jay Mangel in the top of the second inning.

Blayne McGuirk tallied the lone hit for the Falcons, a one-out double in the top of the fourth inning.

A-C Valley (11-8) isn't the first team to be baffled by Tobin and certainly won't be the last.

In the Lakers' 3-1 win over Linesville in the District 10 title game May 31, Tobin struck out six in two innings of relief.

"Our best pitcher is T.J. Mitchell (who played first base Monday), but Matt has been just as good all year," said Mercyhurst coach Randy Durkoske.

"We didn't hit today, but that's all on Mercyhurst," said Falcons coach John Irwin. "Their kid did a nice job. If he's their number two guy, I wouldn't want to face Mitchell."

Eric Brandt, a senior right-hander who started at second base, pitched the final two innings for the Lakers (20-2) and retired the Falcons in order in both frames.

Tobin's counterpart, A-C Valley starter Cole Smith, pitched better than the final score indicates.

In six innings, he fanned four batters, walked one, and hit one, but only two of the six runs he allowed were earned.

Mercyhurst broke the ice in the bottom of the third inning when R.J. Niedzwiecki led off with a double.

With one out, Mitchell was hit by a pitch and the two base runners ended up scoring on a throwing error.

Tobin helped his own cause when he brought home Brandt with a triple for a 3-0 lead.

"Once again, errors hurt us," said Irwin. "Your pitcher goes out and gives up just two earned runs and you expect to support him better than we did."

The Falcons' best chance to score came in the top of the fifth.

Jay Mangel drew a leadoff walk from Tobin and the pitcher's errant pickoff throw allowed Mangel to reach third with one out.

But Tobin struck out Alex Logue and got Smith to fly out to deep left field.

"He had great control with his fastball today, and his changeup was excellent," said Durkoske.

The 2010 season was a successful one for A-C Valley, as the program reached the state playoffs for the first time.

"I wouldn't trade this group of kids for anything," said Irwin.

A-C Valley 000 000 0 — 0 1 3Mercyhurst Prep 003 300 x — 6 8 2W: Matt Tobin 5 IP (11 K, 2 BB).

L: Cole Smith 6 IP (4 K, 1 BB).

A-C Valley (11-8): Blayne McGuirk 2B, Cole Smith SB

Mercyhurst Prep (20-2): T.J. Mitchell R, Eric Brandt 1B R 2 RBI, Matt Tobin 3B RBI, Phil Cacchione 1B, Steve Slaney 1B, Dan Post 1B R SB, R.J. Niedzwiecki 2-2B 2R RBI, Evan Herdzik 1B R RBI SB