FOX CHAPEL — By its coach's own admission, Yough didn't hit the ball Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars managed only four singles — three of them infield hits — and hit three balls into the outfield all day.

But Yough managed to squeeze out a 3-2 victory over Knoch in a WPIAL Class AAA preliminary round baseball game at Fox Chapel.

“We figured we were playing at noon today, so we took batting practice at 8:30 a.m.,” Yough coach Jeremy Zufall said. “I guess we did all of our hitting this morning.”

Because of soggy field conditions, the game was moved to a 3 p.m. start at Fox Chapel High School. It was originally slated for noon at Shaler.

While Yough may have hit well in the morning, Knoch right-hander Gavin Miller had plenty to do with why the Cougars didn't hit well in the afternoon.

“Gavin threw an outstanding game,” Knoch coach George Bradley said. “We couldn't have asked for more.”

Miller threw 57 pitches in the first three innings, only 33 in the final three. He struck out five and got stronger as the game went on, facing the minimum nine hitters over the final three innings.

But the Cougars scored three runs off him in the third without hitting a ball out of the infield.

Eric Borkovich hit a slow roller toward first base that he beat out for a hit. No. 9 hitter Ben Sablijak grounded to third, but Taylor Sharer's throw to second for the attempted force-out was late.

After the runners were bunted up a base, a walk loaded the bases. Luke Spisak grounded into a force at third, but an errant throw on a double play attempt plated the game's first run. Brad Bisko beat out an infield single for an RBI, a third run scoring on an errant throw to first.

“We'll take it any way we can get it,” Zufall said.

Andy Fritz doubled in the fourth and scored on an infield out for the Knights. Zufall replaced middle reliever C.J. Vargo on the mound with Tucker Slaptosky to begin the seventh.

Slaptosky walked the first two batters in the inning, prompting Zufall to move Vargo from first base back to the mound. Chase Voltz walked to load the bases.

“Our plan coming into this game was to go 3-3-1 with three different pitchers,” Odelli said. “The third move didn't work out.”

The Cougars averted disaster, however. Hunter Balliet's sacrifice fly to center plated Chris Law, but Zach Junk was cut down trying to advance from second to third on the play.

Hyte Eurich was retired on a comebacker to the mound to end the game.

“Zach feels terrible, but I'm not gonna yell at a kid for making an effort, trying to make a hustle play to win a game,” Bradley said.

“We had opportunities to score earlier in this game and didn't take advantage. Yough did take advantage and that's why they won.”

Knoch stranded two runners in the second inning and left the bases loaded in the third.

Yough, which won its first WPIAL playoff game in 10 years, faces top-seeded and undefeated South Park today.

Knoch 000 100 1 — 2 5 3

Yough 003 000 x — 3 4 1

W: C.J. Vargo 4IP (1K, 1BB). L: Gavin Miller 6IP (5K, 3BB).

Knoch (9-10): Chase Voltz 1B, Hunter Balliet 2-1B RBI, Caleb Thorn 1B, Andy Fritz 2B, Chris Law RBI

Yiough (10-10): Luke Spisak 1B RBI, Brad Bisko 1B RBI, Cody Overly 1B, Eric Borkovich 1B

Today: Yough vs. South Park, 4:30 p.m., West Mifflin