NEW BETHLEHEM — Lyndsey Jones has frustrated many softball teams' lineups this spring. Moniteau can vouch for that, three times over.

Redbank Valley's junior pitcher beat the Warriors for the third time this season Wednesday afternoon. Her latest performance included five strikeouts, no walks and just three hits allowed in a 2-0 victory in a District 9 Class AA semifinal playoff on the Bulldogs' home field.

Jones was sharp in both of her team's wins over Moniteau in the regular season: 4-0 on April 10 and 7-2 April 17.

“We put the bat on the ball well in those two games but, like today, we struggled to score runs,” said Warriors' coach Dan Beebe.

Moniteau's best chance to get on the scoreboard Wednesday came in the top of the sixth inning.

Trailing 2-0, the Warriors managed to get two of their first three batters of the inning on base thanks to Bulldog fielding errors. With one out, Jones struck out Emily Hiwiller.

Moments later, Chloe Eshenbaugh and Sydney Boben successfully executed a double steal to put runners on second and third. But Jones got Aleisha Fowler to fly out, ending the threat.

The former pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, sending the Bulldogs to Tuesday's district title game against Cranberry.

“We were able to get a couple of runners on there in the sixth, but couldn't get the clutch hit,” Beebe said.

The Warriors (13-8) also stranded two runners in the third after Kaitlyn Patton and Holly Colosimo both singled, but remained at second and first, respectively.

“She's gotten us out of pinches before,” Redbank coach John Sayers said of Jones. “That's why she's first team all-conference.”

Jones' effort spoiled the pitching of Moniteau's Colosimo, who put up a solid showing of her own.

In her six innings of work, the Warriors' senior struck out five while walking four, but allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits.

After giving up an unearned tally in the bottom of the first — Alex Bell came home on a throwing error following an infield single by Kate Brothers — Colosimo pitched three consecutive scoreless innings and forced the Bulldogs to strand seven runners in the first four frames.

“Giving up just (five) hits, she did her part today,” said Beebe. “We just didn't have enough offense.”

Redbank Valley (14-4) scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Hailey Rearick's triple to right-center plated Tessa Troup, who had singled.

“Today was our team in a nutshell,” said Sayers. “We got good pitching and defense and timely hitting. My gang doesn't panic.”

For Beebe, the 2012 season was one of ups and downs.

“We went through a lot of adversity,” he said. “We had a lot of expectations after going 17-2 last year, but were a young team and faced some injuries. We couldn't find a steady lineup this year.”

Moniteau 000 000 0 — 0 3 2

Redbank Valley 100 010 x — 2 5 2

W: Lyndsey Jones 7 IP (5K, 0BB). L: Holly Colosimo 6 IP (5K, 4BB).

Moniteau (13-8): Chloe Eshenbaugh 1B SB, Holly Colosimo 1B, Sydney Boben SB, Kaitlyn Patton 1B

Redbank Valley (14-4): Alex Bell 2-1B R, Tessa Troup 1B R, Kate Brothers 1B, Hailey Rearick 3B RBI