JACKSON TWP - To Eric Semega, the comeback was good enough.

"Winning the game was gravy," Seneca Valley's varsity baseball coach said.

The Raiders stayed unbeaten Saturday by rallying from an 8-1 deficit to defeat previously unbeaten North Allegheny, 9-8, at Raider Field.

"This would have never happened last year," Semega said. "After an inning like that second inning, we would have folded, for sure. But this team just has a different feel."

North Allegheny scored all eight of its runs in the second frame, putting together five hits, three walks and taking advantage of three Seneca Valley errors.

The Tigers had a 2-1 lead, runners at second and third, one out, and No. 9 batter John Quimby at the plate. Quimby failed to make contact on a squeeze bunt attempt and the Raiders had the runner picked off third, but third baseman Ben Follett could not hold on to the ball after the tag.

Quimby struck out for what would have been the third out of the inning. Instead, Blake Jurena followed with a two-run double and scored on an infield error. Mike Juliano belted a three-run homer to left and NA had its 8-1 lead.

Seneca Valley pitcher Ryan Page allowed only a single and a walk over the final five innings.

"He settled down, but we got complacent," NA coach Tim Banner said. "We never got anything going."

The Raiders began chipping away at the deficit. They scored a run in the third, but Jason Davis grounded into a bases-loaded double play to curtail the threat.

Follett delivered a run-scoring double, Davis and Dan Reale RBI singles in the fifth as Seneca cut the gap to 8-5 and chased starting pitcher Josh Hungerman, a junior left-hander.

Hungerman threw 102 pitches.

"He's one of our better arms, but I could see he was getting tired," Banner said.

Kevin Smith and Davis got to sophomore relief pitcher Mike Birsic for RBI singles in the sixth as the Raiders crept within a run. But Tyler Neff grounded into a double play to end the inning with the tying run in scoring position.

"I watched our kids' body language after both of those double plays," Semega said. "Nobody got quiet or dropped their head. Everybody stayed upbeat.

"Just seeing that character in these kids was enough for me. The way they fought back … I'm so proud of them."

Reale led off the bottom of the seventh with a double into the right field corner. He went to third on Page's fly ball to right. Adam Ranalli hit a foul pop fly to third.

The Tigers apparently survived the rally when Andrew Wilmoth popped up in front of the plate. Catcher Brian Roberts misjudged the ball, however, as it landed in fair territory, but caromed foul.

"That's a tough play for a catcher," Banner said. "It wasn't his fault. That ball was hit plenty high enough for other guys to come in and help him.

"Nobody moved - and we got what we got."

What they got was a loss.

Wilmoth took advantage of the second chance and singled to left, tying the game. Chris Tremblay beat out a grounder to shortstop and Follett doubled high off the left field fence, scoring Wilmoth with the winning run.

"I was looking for a fastball and I got it," Follett said. "I was just trying to hit a line drive to the outfield.

"This team has confidence. Coming back from seven down to beat a team like North Allegheny only gives us more confidence."

The Raiders had 14 hits. Page struck out nine and threw 136 pitches in a complete-game effort.

"We were going to let him throw 100 to 120 pitches," Semega said. "He was ready for that and showed no signs of getting tired.

"We didn't help Ryan any in that second inning. We know we're gonna hit the ball and he gave us a chance to get back in it. It all just worked out."

N. Allegheny 080 000 0 - 8 6 3

S. Valley 101 032 2 - 9 14 4

2 outs when winning run scored

WP:

Ryan Page (7 IP) 9 strikeouts, 5 walks.

LP:

Mike Birsic (2

IP) 1 strikeout, 1 walk

North Allegheny (3-1):

Blake Jurena 2B 2 RBI, Mike Juliano HR 3 RBI 2 R, Pat Trettel 2-1B RBI, Brandon Woods 1B RBI, Tyler Haak 1B

Seneca Valley (4-0):

Andrew Wilmoth 2B 1B 3 R RBI, Chris Tremblay 4-1B 2 R, Ben Follett 2-2B 2 R 2 RBI, Kevin Smith 1B RBI, Jason Davis 2-1B 2 RBI, Tyler Neff 1B, Dan Reale 1B 2B

Today:

Seneca Valley @ New Castle