SHALER TWP — Just over a week ago, the Seneca Valley baseball team suffered its first loss in 18 games.

On Wednesday, the Raiders proved the defeat is just a memory.

SV (18-2) received home runs from Andrew Fornadel and Shaine Patsilevas while Cory Mazzoni pitched out of jams in the fifth and seventh innings as the Raiders beat Plum, 6-5, in the WPIAL Quad A consolation game at Shaler's Matulevic Field.

The victory gives Seneca Valley the third and final playoff spot from the WPIAL in the upcoming PIAA playoffs.

The Raiders will face District 10 champion Cathedral Prep on Monday at a site and time to be determined.

The Raiders' hopes for a WPIAL title ended with a 12-4 loss to Bethel Park May 23.

"We gave the guys Thursday off and came back to practice on Friday," said SV coach Eric Semega. "We had to decide if we were going to let that loss ruin the rest of our season or if we were going to try and do something with it."

The Mustangs trailed 6-3 entering their last at-bat, but managed a rally against Mazzoni.

After a sacrifice fly from Clint White scored Scott McGough to make it 6-4, Troy Besterci's two-out single plated Anthony DeFabio and SV's lead was down to just one run.

But Mazzoni got Jim Carr to fly out to Gabe Grinder in deep right field to end the game.

"You don't lose confidence in a kid like that," Semega said of Mazzoni. "He's been doing it for us all year."

"Baseball is such a funny game," said Mustangs' coach Carl Vollmer. "If Seneca isn't playing deep to keep us from hitting doubles right there, maybe that ball falls in and we tie it up again.

"Seneca Valley is a very good team," added Vollmer. "But we're a good team, too."

Mazzoni also got out of trouble in the top of the fifth frame.

The Mustangs had entered the inning trailing 3-0, but got RBI-singles from Tom Bergamasco and DeFabio before Mazzoni closed the inning by getting White to fly out.

Plum added a run in the top of the sixth inning that tied the game at three, but an RBI base hit from Dan Jergel was followed by Patsilevas' two-run blast over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the inning and the Raiders lead was back to three runs at 6-3.

"I'm just proud of these kids," said Semega. "The wheels could've fallen off just like they did in last week's game. They really wanted it today."

Mazzoni's complete-game win included five strikeouts and one walk. The five runs he surrendered came on 10 hits.

Fornadel's home run off of Plum starter Besterci led off the fourth inning and put the Raiders up 2-0. Jergel's single later in the inning off reliever McGough scored Tyler Bream, who ended the game with a single, two doubles and two runs scored.

SV was the first to get on the scoreboard when Patsilevas scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jim Burry in the bottom of the third inning.

McGough, who entered the game with a 4-0 record this season, shouldered the loss after pitching three innings, striking out two and walking none. He allowed three runs on six hits.

"The coaches really enjoy being around these players and vice versa," said Semega. "This allows us to spend a little more time together and see if we can put something together the rest of the season."

Plum defeated SV, 1-0 on March 26.

Plum 000 021 2—5 10 2Seneca Valley 001 203 x—6 11 2Troy Besterci (1 K, 1 BB), Scott McGough (4) and Charlie Prokopik; Cory Mazzoni and Matt Johnson.

W: Mazzoni (5 K, 1 BB).

L: McGough (2 K, 0 BB).

Plum (18-3-1): Scott McGough 1B 2R, Tom Bergamasco 1B RBI, Anthony DeFabio 2-1B 2B R RBI SB, Clint White 2B RBI, Troy Besterci 1B RBI, Charlie Prokopik 2-1B RBI, Ryan Webb R, Jim Carr R SB, Josh Cecchetti 1B

Seneca Valley (18-2): Ken Walrond 1B SB, Jim Burry 2B, Gabe Grinder 1B, Andrew Fornadel HR, Tyler Bream 1B 2-2B 2R, Dan Jergel 2-1B R 2RBI, Shaine Patsilevas 2B HR 2R 2RBI

Monday: Seneca Valley vs. Cathedral Prep, PIAA Quad A first-round playoff, site and time TBD