HAMPTON TWP — Senior first baseman Suzanne Papik provided the Mars softball team’s offense with two big sparks.

South Fayette pitcher Ashley Iagnemma prevented them from spreading, keeping the Planets in a steady march from the batter’s box to the dugout.

Eighth-seeded Mars, which entered the game with a .410 team batting average, never completely solved Iagnemma in a 3-1 first-round WPIAL Class AAA softball playoff loss Wednesday at Hampton Community Park.

Papik, who raised her average to .516, delivered two of the Planets’ three hits.

“During the playoffs, you have to put it all on the field and play like it’s your last game,” Papik said. “That was my mentality today.”

Papik singled to lead off the fourth inning, giving Mars (11-6) its first hit.

In the sixth inning, Papik smashed a one-out triple to right-center field.

Mallory Eperesi followed with a groundout to Iagnemma that scored Papik and cut the South Fayette lead to 3-1.

“Suz has been a big contributor to the team the whole year,” said Mars junior pitcher Niki Schlegel, who finished with six strikeouts. “She always comes through during crucial times when we need her.”

Ninth-seeded South Fayette had nearly everyone come through in the top of the third inning.

The Lions (13-7) produced four hits and plated all three of their runs.

With one out, Sarah Judas singled and Emily Bryan moved Judas to third with a single of her own. Bryan attempted to steal and a throwing error allowed Judas to score.

Mikayla Fetchet then drove in Bryan, who moved to third on the error, with a groundout.

Courtney Blocker hit a two-out triple and scored when Iagnemma hit a double to right field.

Iagnemma struck out three batters in the circle and finished a home run short of the cycle.

“We came in a little bit blind against Mars, knowing little about them,” South Fayette coach Vic Iagnemma said. “We were here to play our game the way we’ve been playing.”

Mars finished with five errors. Planets coach Michele Goodworth said it was an atypical performance.

“It comes down to being able to reduce the runs,” Goodworth said. “We’ve done it all season, but today it wasn’t there.”

Marina Manupelli gave Mars life in the seventh inning with a two-out triple.

Jordyn Douglas then hit a short fly ball that Lions shortstop Gwen Iagnemma had a hard time handling. She caught the ball with the tip of her glove and fell down, but managed to hold on to the ball.

It was a play that made Vic Iagnemma a little nervous.

“It was a good play and you have to have faith in the girls,” Iagnemma said. “She had to go way back to the grass to make that catch.”

It was another bounce that didn’t go Mars’ way. Papik always believed the Planets would turn it around.

Their offense just never got going.

“I trust every one of these girls and I knew we’d all hit the ball,” Papik said. “I wasn’t too nervous, but it didn’t end up the way we wanted to.”

South Fayette 003 000 0 — 3 7 1

Mars 000 001 0 — 1 3 5

W: Niki Schlegel 7IP (6K, 0BB). L: Ashley Iagnemma 7IP (3K, 0BB).

South Fayette (13-7): Sarah Judas 2-1B, Emily Bryan 1B, Courtney Blocker 3B, Mikayla Fetchet RBI, Ashley Iagnemma 1B 2B 3B RBI.

Mars (10-7): Suzanne Papik 1B 3B, Marina Manupelli 3B