FOX CHAPEL — Claire Crytzer couldn't recall playing in an extra inning game before.

She can scratch that off her list.

The big hitting junior shortstop for the Freeport softball team can also scratch “game-winning walk-off home run” off that same list.

Crytzer drilled a line-drive two-run home run over the right field fence at Fox Chapel High School in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday afternoon to give the Yellowjackets a 6-4 win over Steel Valley in the first round of the WPIAL 3A playoffs.

“I didn't know if it had enough to get out,” Crytzer said, laughing. “The wind's blowing out that way, so ...

“It was amazing,” added Crytzer, who now has six home runs this season for a Freeport team that has bashed 30 homers this year. “Rounding first base I couldn't contain my excitement. I was screaming and pumping my fists. It was amazing seeing my teammates at home cheering me on.”

The opposite-field walk-off homer ended a strange game.

Both teams were adept at threatening to score, only to leave runners stranded.

Freeport pitcher Kristie Radvan worked out of jams in the first three innings while only allowing one run and then wiggled out of trouble again unscathed in the fifth.

Steel Valley (10-8) left seven runners on base in those four innings — four in scoring position.

“It was a little stressful whenever we had runners on second and third almost every inning,” Crytzer said. “Both teams got runners on, so it was a little nerve wracking.”

Radvan's counterpart in the circle, Sam Arthrell, was also good at getting into trouble and then out of it.

Freeport (11-4) left the bases loaded without scoring in the second inning and stranded a runner at third in the third before finally opening up a 4-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Tori Radvan had a two-run single in that rally.

But Steel Valley got to Kristie Radvan in the sixth with two runs and tied the game in the seventh on a RBI single by Katie Proof.

Again, Radvan was able to limit the damage by getting out of trouble.

Radvan struck out seven and didn't walk a batter despite pitching with a strained right hamstring.

“I've been on crutches and in a wheelchair,” Radvan said. “But I'm good.”

Radvan didn't pitch like she was in discomfort. She retired all six batters she faced in extra innings, setting the stage for Crytzer's heroics.

“She pitched a heck of a game,” said Freeport coach Sam Ross. “She hit her spots. All we ask her to do is keep us in the game, and she did that and then some today.”

She was comforted by her teammates, who picked her up both in the field and at the plate.

“We don't panic,” Radvan said. “We just try to get on base and have the batters do their job. Getting nervous and uptight doesn't help anything.”

Crytzer said she had a feeling the Yellowjackets would win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

“Before we went out, everyone was screaming, 'Just believe! Just believe! We only need just one,” Crytzer said.

Freeport got two.

Ashleigh Schmidt led off with a single that was lost in the sun and then Crytzer ended it.

Steel Valley committed five errors in the loss.

“Our defense has kind of been our Achilles' heel all year,” said Steel Valley coach Mark Janov. “We've kind of cleaned it up the last three weeks, but it kind of reared its head again today.

“Two good teams,” Janov added. “And one had to go home.”

Freeport will play South Park at a site and time to be determined Wednesday.

The Yellowjackets were eliminated by South Park in the playoffs last season.

“I know personally I played awful against them last season,” Kristie Radvan said. “I think this year will be a different story.”

Steel Valley 010 002 100 — 4 14 5

Freeport 100 030 002 — 6 11 0

No outs when winning run scored

W: Kristie Radvan 9IP (7K, 0BB). L: Sam Arthrell 8IP (2K, 0BB).

Steel Valley (10-8): Delany Vargo 1B, Jaylin Brown RBI, Kristen Bayus 2B 3-1B, Sam Sniegocki 2B, Arthrell 1B 2B, Katie Proof 2-1B RBI, Veronica Sikora 2-1B RBI, Kayla Hartnett 2B 1B

Freeport (11-4): Ashleigh Schmidt 2-1B 2B, Claire Crytzer 2B 1B HR 2-RBI, Ally DeJidas 3-1B, Tori Radvan 1B 2-RBI, Jenna Hildebrand 1B

Wednesday: Freeport vs. South Park, site and time to be determined