ERIE — Even at the end, the Seneca Valley softball team went down with a fight.

Scrappy all season, the Raiders nearly rallied in the top of the seventh inning against McDowell in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs, but fell 4-3 to the Trojans at Penn State Behrend Monday afternoon.

“We had a runner on first and the winning run at the plate,” said Seneca Valley softball coach George Trew. “I don't think too many people but ourselves thought we could get this far. We felt we could.”

Seneca Valley (13-7) led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but McDowell (15-6) rallied for a run to tie the game.

The Trojans added one more run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the sixth.

They would need every last one.

Megan Buletko singled home two runs off McDowell pitcher Mackenzie Hewett in the top of the seventh, but the Raiders were unable to draw even.

Alyssa DiMaria had a double and a single to lead Seneca Valley's seven-hit attack.

Hewett struck out 11 for McDowell.

“She was the best pitcher we faced all season,” Trew said of Hewett.

Emily Watson struck out 10 and also gave up seven hits for Seneca Valley, which started the season 5-5, but won eight in a row to reach the WPIAL final against Latrobe, where it lost.

“We really turned it on at the end of the season,” Trew said. “There's a lot to be proud of.”

Seneca Valley 000 100 2 — 3 7 1McDowell 000 112 x — 4 7 3W: Mackenzie Hewett 7IP (11 K, 3 BB).

L: Emily Watson 6 IP (10 K, 3 BB).

Seneca Valley (13-7): Alyssa DiMaria 1B 2B, Megan Buletko 1B 2-RBI

McDowell (15-6): Rayanne Seager 1B RBI, Hannah Bailey 1B RBI, Emily Paterniti 1B RBI

BaseballJeff Revesz singled, doubled and collected two RBI in Grove City's 6-3 win over Chartiers Valley in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA baseball playoffs at Jerry Uht Park.Jon Anderson added two singles and a pair of RBI at the plate and pitched two scoreless innings for the save.Jason Revesz pitched the first five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) for the win.The Colts took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Grove City countered with three in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.The Eagles (18-2) will face WPIAL champion Elizabeth-Forward (22-0) in a quarterfinal contest Thursday at a site to be determined.