KENNEDY TWP — Facing the same pitcher who shut them down in the WPIAL championship game, members of the Seneca Valley softball team knew they couldn't afford to surrender a big inning to Latrobe's offense.

And for all but one inning, they kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, Latrobe's half of the fifth frame yielded four runs in a 4-0 win over SV in a PIAA Quad A quarterfinal contest at Fairhaven Park Thursday.

It was Latrobe's second win over the Raiders in a seven-day span, with junior pitcher Alexa Bryson again picking up the win, this time with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Latrobe prevailed 5-1 in the WPIAL title game on May 31.

The Wildcats (20-3) broke a scoreless stalemate after chasing SV starting pitcher Lauren Pennell from the game in the top of the fifth inning.

After four solid innings, Pennell gave up a single and a walk before hitting a batter to load the bases with one out.

She was relieved by Courtney Grootegoed, who got Kristin Schmucker to ground to first baseman Lindsay Troyer.

Troyer fielded the ball and threw home to force out courtesy runner Jocie Eaglehouse, but the ball popped out of the mitt of catcher Megan McCormick and Latrobe had a 1-0 lead.

But the worst was yet to come.

The next batter, Natalie Ferrari, crushed a double to the left-field fence, clearing the bases for a 4-0 edge.

"Natalie and Kristin Paul are the only seniors we have, and we expect our seniors to play their best in the playoffs," said Latrobe coach Bob Kovalcin. "They did that today."

Pennell shouldered the loss after striking out three and walking one. She was charged with three runs on four hits.

"I thought Lauren pitched well in the first four innings," said SV coach George Trew. "But Latrobe got a couple of hits and we made a couple of mistakes.

"But the bottom line is we didn't score a run," Trew added. "And when you don't score, you can't win."

Bryson gave up only five hits and wiggled her way out of the one jam she found herself in Thursday.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Raiders (20-3) were looking to cut into the Wildcats' 4-0 lead and they almost did.

Kelsey Gray led off with a single. With one out, Ashley Watkins and Dana Hughes both reached on singles to load the bases.

But Bryson, who has given up one run in 35 playoff innings, struck out Liz Dorogy and got Jackie Mangola to fly out to close the inning.

After SV's fifth-inning rally was cut short, Bryson retired the Raiders in order in the final two innings.

"(Bryson) has now shut down the best offense in the WPIAL twice," said Kovalcin. "That speaks for itself."

Seneca Valley's season included 13 straight wins to start the year, a section championship and a trip to the WPIAL finals and state playoffs.

"It was a great season," said Trew. "In the 14 years I've been involved with the program, we'd never won 20 games in a season until this year."

Latrobe 000 040 0—4 6 1Seneca Valley 000 000 0—0 5 2Alexa Bryson and Lauren Taylor; Lauren Pennell, Courtney Grootegoed (5, 2 K, 0 BB) and Megan McCormick.

W: Bryson (10 K, 0 BB).

L: Pennell (3 K, 1 BB)

Latrobe (20-3): Mollie Kovalcin R, Kristin Schmucker R RBI, Natalie Ferrari 2-2B 3 RBI, Amber Biddle 1B, Kristin Paul 1B, Lauren Taylor 1B, Rachel Eaglehouse 1B, Emily Fenton R, Jocie Eaglehouse R

Seneca Valley (20-3): Dana Hughes 2-1B, Kelsey Gray 1B, Ashley Watkins 2-1B