SLIPPERY ROCK — It was going to take a masterful pitching performance to beat Moniteau’s baseball team on Thursday.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, Michael Boswell delivered it.

Boswell worked a 1-hit gem as Riverside eliminated Moniteau from the PIAA Class AA playoffs with a 1-0 quarterfinal win at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.

“He didn’t have his live fastball today. Usually, he’s around 85 to 86 (mph),” said Riverside coach Dan Oliastro of Boswell, “but he was getting his 12-to-6 curveball over.

“Moniteau was well-prepared and they gave us everything they had. They played us tough.”

Boswell struck out nine and walked three. He out-dueled Derek Boben, who allowed the one run on six hits in six innings.

The WPIAL champion Panthers scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cris Cicchinelli reached on an infield single with two outs, moved to second base on a passed ball and came home thanks to Braden Bentel’s base hit.

Other than that sequence, Boben proved to be Boswell’s equal in posting zeros on the scoreboard. The senior forced the Panthers (22-2) to strand five baserunners. He also set Riverside down in order in the third and fifth innings and ended the game with three strikeouts and just one walk.

Boben was coming off a pair of District 9 playoff appearances in which he experienced control problems.

“He was awesome today,” said Moniteau coach Ross Martin. “He was an absolute competitor out there. He battled and got out of a couple of situations.

“Coming off Monday’s game (a 5-3 first-round win over Girard) when he was a bit erratic, I’m so proud of him. I’m so proud of all these guys.”

Boswell opened the game in dominating fashion, setting the Warriors down in order on just eight pitches in the top of the first frame. But the Panthers received a scare in the second when Boswell and catcher Bentel collided in foul territory while attempting to make a play on a ball hit by Moniteau’s Lake Pry.

Boswell remained on the ground for a short time before getting up and limping back to the mound.

“He was hurting, but he gutted it out today,” said Oliastro. “There was no way I was taking him out, he would have killed me. He had enough in here (heart) to do the job.”

The Warriors had precious few chances against Boswell. They twice had a runner reach second base.

In the top of the third, Wyatt Geibel smacked a two-out single to center field — Moniteau’s only hit of the game — and Jake Jewart walked. Both runners were stranded when Boswell struck out Aaron Marterella.

Boben walked to start the fourth inning and courtesy runner Brice Williams advanced to second base when Zack Adamson laid down a sacrifice bunt. But with two outs, Williams was picked off to end the inning.

“He (Boswell) was throwing that curve early in the count,” said Martin. “Then he wouldn’t throw a strike for the rest of the at-bat, so we could have been a little more selective. But credit their pitcher. He’s very polished.”

Boswell’s performance extends an unbelievable streak for Riverside, which has now outscored its six playoff opponents 26-0. The last run the Panthers allowed was during a 9-5 victory over Hopewell in the regular-season finale May 11.

Riverside advances toward what it hopes is the fifth state title in program history.

Moniteau’s season ends with an overall record of 17-4.

“We worked the last couple of years to get to this threshold,” said Martin. “We’ve been knocking on the door over the last few seasons. To win District 9 and make the state playoffs, stand toe-to-toe with a perennial state contender, it shows people you belong.”

Moniteau 000 000 0 — 0 1 0

Riverside 000 100 x — 1 6 0

W: Michael Boswell 7 IP (9K, 3BB). L: Derek Boben 6 IP (3K, 1BB).

Moniteau (17-4): Wyatt Geibel 1B

Riverside (22-2): Michael Boswell 2B, Kolby Wolf 1B, Cris Cicchinelli 2-1B R, Braden Bentel 1B RBI, Ricky Wass 1B