WEXFORD — Monday night's baseball game between Seneca Valley and North Allegheny had the makings of a slugfest.

But pitching soon took over on both sides.

SV's Matt Smith, the team's No. 1 starter, came on in relief and pitched four shutout innings to help the Raiders defeat the rival Tigers 6-3 on the latter's home field.

All nine of the game's runs were scored in the first two innings.

The loss knocks North Allegheny (11-5, 6-5) out of playoff contention.

Due to makeups of postponed games, the Raiders (10-3, 7-3) will be forced to play three games in three days this week. They play North Hills today and host Butler on Wednesday with a playoff spot hanging in the balance.

SV coach Eric Semega was hoping to save Smith for the Butler game.

“Once I saw how the game was playing out today, I decided to put him in,” said Semega. “We had a lead and needed to protect it.”

Smith did just that, striking out five, walking two and allowing just one hit in his four innings.

“Coach texted me earlier today, saying he was going to have me pitch Wednesday,” said Smith. “So I wasn't expecting to be in the game tonight.

“This was my first relief outing all season, but I do pitch in relief in summer and fall ball,” he added. “To me, it's just like starting a game.”

Smith followed starter Justin McCauley, who allowed NA's three runs on two hits in the first inning and Steve Driscoll, who has spent most of his time on the junior varsity squad.

Driscoll pitched a scoreless second and third inning, retiring six of the seven batters he faced.

“He had pitched just one inning of varsity this year and that was in a non-section game,” Semega said of Driscoll. “He came in and threw strikes and that's what we needed.”

The Raiders entered the top of the second down 3-1, but soon took the lead for good.

Austin Bream led off the frame with a double and scored on Ben Murray's one-out base hit.

Christian Durbin and Jon Dorogy followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases.

With two outs, Sam Fragale drew a walk to force in a run. Kyle Gorniak then cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right-center.

“I like the way we put the bat on the ball in that inning,” Semega said of the top of the second.

SV did all of its damage against Tigers' starter Kevin Monper, who took the loss after pitching just 1X\c innings.

“He pitched well recently against Pine-Richland and Fox Chapel,” said NA coach Andy Maddix of Monper. “He'd come up big in this run we had (three straight section wins), but Seneca got to him today.”

Jimmy Divosevic pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings and Tanner Wilt did not surrender a run over the last three frames for the Tigers.

“Jimmy was great and Tanner is still coming back from an injury, but he gave us what he had,” said Maddix.

NA jumped on McCauley as Nick Sell smacked the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning for a triple. He later scored on a wild pitch.

Divosevic added an RBI-single and Brice Nikithser came home on a throwing error.

But SV's pitching and defense soon settled down.

Great defensive plays were turned in by Justin Stanger at third base and Gorniak in center field, among others.

“We won this game with defense,” said Semega. “It was great today.”

Monday's loss marks the end of an incredible run for North Allegheny. The last time the Tigers failed to make the WPIAL baseball playoffs was 1985.

“We're all very disappointed, but also proud of the kids,” said Maddix. “They played hard tonight, but Seneca Valley deserves a lot of credit.”

Seneca Valley 150 000 0 — 6 8 1No. Allegheny 300 000 0 — 3 4 0W: Matt Smith 4 IP (5K, 2BB).

L: Kevin Monper 1 2/3 IP (1K, 1BB).

Seneca Valley (10-3, 7-3): Jon Dorogy 1B R, Brad Gresock 1B R, Sam Fragale 2B R 2RBI, Kyle Gorniak 1B 3B 3RBI, Austin Bream 2B R, Ben Murray 1B R RBI, Christian Durbin 1B R

North Allegheny (11-5, 6-5): Nick Sell 3B R, Tanner Wilt 1B R, Brice Nikithser 1B R, Jimmy Divosevic 1B RBI

Today: Seneca Valley at North Hills