JACKSON TWP — Emily Watson pitched a perfect game Tuesday — and her Seneca Valley teammates played one.

The Raider senior retired all 15 batters she faced — striking out five — while eight different SV players produced hits and seven collected RBIs in a 10-0 softball blanking of Butler.

The win was Seneca Valley’s third in a row and pulled the Raiders (9-2, 5-1) into a first-place tie with Shaler and North Allegheny in Section 3-AAA.

Watson’s perfect game was the first of her career and her second no-hitter of the season — but she received plenty of help.

“Everybody contributed to this win, but that’s how it’s been going for us lately,” SV coach George Trew said. “Emily’s been pitching great and her teammates have done well behind her.”

Watson had to throw just 58 pitches in the game. She fell behind Golden Tornado No. 4 hitter Hannah Henry 3-0 to begin the second inning, worked the count full, then induced a flyout to left. Shortstop Julie Vandrak ranged toward second to field a sharply hit ground ball by Amanda Steinheiser leading off Butler’s fourth inning.

Watson struck out Teslla Koehler on a 3-2 pitch to end the fourth. The game ended when second baseman Alexa Sisko fielded a sharply hit grounder on the short hop and threw out Erin Pennington.

“Our outfielders made some nice catches, we caught a bunt in the air. ... Our defense looked good today,” Trew said.

Butler’s defense made mistakes at inopportune times.

Two infield errors opened up a three-run Seneca Valley first inning. All three runs were unearned as Watson’s two-out infield single broke the scoreless tie and Megan Buletko followed with a two-run single to center.

Tornado fielding errors also contributed to SV rallies of two runs in the second inning and four more in the third.

“We expect our girls to make the plays and, unfortunately, we didn’t get it done today,” Butler coach Dan Hindman said. “Those are issues we’ve been trying to address and will continue working on.

“Softball is such a tight game. One error can cost you a game. One error can cost you a season.”

Vandrak and Buletko had two hits each for the Raiders. Vandrak tripled over the right fielder’s head and Sarah Blagg doubled to left for SV’s lone extra-base hits.

The only player in SV’s starting lineup not to reach base or score a run was, ironically, No. 4 hitter Sisko, who lined out twice in three at-bats.

“That’s OK. ... She had a single, double and triple in our win over North Allegheny last week,” Trew said. “We can find run production from any part of our batting order.”

Butler (3-7, 2-4) plays a critical game at North Hills today as the Tornado saw their modest two-game winning streak snapped Tuesday.

“We’re staying positive,” Hindman said. “We beat North Hills earlier and it’s important we go down there and win that game.”

The Raiders are trying to win the section title.

“All three of us (SV, Shaler, NA) beat each other the first time through the schedule,” Trew said. “We’ll see what happens the second time through.”

Butler 000 00x x — 0 0 4Seneca Valley 324 1xx x — 10 10 0W: Emily Watson 5IP (5K, 0BB).

L: Hope Wonderling 2.1IP (1K, 1BB).

Butler (3-7, 2-4): No hits

Seneca Valley (9-2, 5-1): Julia Vandrak 3B 1B RBI 2-R, Kelsey Mislan 1B RBI 2-R, Sarah Blagg 2B RBI, Emily Watson 1B RBI, Megan Buletko 2-1B 2-RBI, Hailey Marthler 1B RBI, Alyssa Panza 1B, Kelly Pfab 1B RBI

Today: Butler at North Hills

Thursday: Oakland Catholic at Seneca Valley